Innovative Services in Drug Addiction: Family Support and Risk Prevention

Campus InnoBreaks

Innovative Services in Drug Addiction: Family Support and Risk Prevention

Innobeak - Serveis innovadors en drogodependencia

BRUS (Denmark) and Energy Control (Catalonia). Held on 2nd July, 2024.

Drug use is a complex phenomenon, surrounded by debate, multifactorial problems, legal and ethical intricacies, and often stigmas. The reasons for its use can vary and stem from diverse social, cultural, psychological, and economic circumstances.

Clearly, not all forms of drug use carry the same level of risk, although it is also true that zero risk does not exist. For this reason, working on information, counselling, and support, while breaking the taboos that render the reality of drugs invisible, is a fundamental step in reducing the negative impact these substances have on individuals.

This approach, practiced by numerous professionals and organizations for years, proves to be a much more effective alternative than purely preventive or restrictive measures, which often tend to shift or overlook the core of the problem.

In this edition of Innobreak, we will present two innovative initiatives in their approach to addressing drug use and its effects on society:

  • BRUS (Denmark) is a program aimed at young people up to the age of 24 who live in families affected by alcohol and drug addictions. Driven by the Center for Digital Pædagogik (CfDP), this initiative seeks to break the taboo surrounding family addictions through face-to-face meetings and an anonymous chat service. Through these tools, BRUS offers a safe space where young people can express their experiences and focus on their own needs, promoting their emotional well-being and reducing the burden of responsibilities that they should not have to bear.
  • Energy Control (Catalonia) is an ABD program dedicated to reducing the risks associated with drug use, with a realistic approach based on providing users with objective information about their use and a substance analysis service. Additionally, they raise awareness among nightlife professionals and collect data on the unregulated market, providing early warnings about adulterated products to protect consumers’ health.

Speakers:

  • Anne Matte Hansen, BRUS (Denmark)
  • Mireia Ventura, Energy Control (Catalonia)

Innobreaks

New tools for remote social services users monitoring

New tools for remote social services users monitoring

WACS (UK) and DigiContact (Netherlands) – Held on 22/10/2021

Social innovation in the protection of children and adolescents at risk

Publications Articles

Social innovation in the protection of children and adolescents at risk

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Infància i adolescència en risc

According to UNICEF, it is estimated that more than 1 billion children and adolescents are victims of violence worldwide, with profound, lasting, and sometimes deadly consequences. How can social innovation be applied to child protection?

Protection of Children and Adolescents

Child protection involves preventing exploitation, abuse, harmful practices, and violence against children and adolescents (C&A), as well as taking action when any of these situations occur. This protection is recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to UNICEF, it is estimated that more than 1 billion C&A are victims of violence worldwide, with profound, lasting, and sometimes deadly consequences. The latest data from PAHO reveal that one in two children between the ages of two and seventeen experiences some form of violence each year. Additionally, according to Save the Children, one in two victims of sexual violence is a child. On average, these victims must recount the events four times after reporting them, and the average duration of the legal process is three years. Furthermore, seven out of ten open cases do not reach oral trial.

According to the study Vulnerability and Exclusion in Childhood, social exclusion in childhood is a multidimensional process affecting different areas, such as residential, socio-health, and relational. Additionally, this study identifies vulnerable groups at greater risk of exclusion, such as children with disabilities, those from minority ethnic groups, or those in situations of family neglect.

In this article, we will explore some innovative proposals and perspectives in the field of child protection that aim to improve the response of social services and social entities to situations of child vulnerability.

Safe spaces for child victims of sexual violence: The Barnahus Model

The Barnahus (children’s house in Icelandic) is an innovative, multidisciplinary, and inter-institutional model that coordinates criminal investigations and social services evaluations in cases of child and youth sexual abuse and violence. The integrated units, formed by specialized teams, aim to avoid the revictimization of children and adolescents and provide all necessary care in one center. The purpose is to place the victim and their well-being at the center of processes, reduce waiting times for help, and improve the efficiency and coordination of the response.

The Barnahus model prevents victims from having to go through courts, police stations, hospitals, and child services. The spaces have a welcoming and pleasant appearance that provides security, comfort, and trust to children and families. The center is open Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 7 pm, and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, with professionals from different areas of the Administration, such as health, social services, or the judicial sector.

Originally, the National Children’s Advocacy Centre in the United States developed the Barnahus model, and Reykjavik was the first European city to implement it in 1998. In Iceland, according to Save The Children, after extending the Barnahus model throughout the country, convictions for child abuse and violence have doubled, and accusations have tripled. In Catalonia, the Generalitat started a pilot program in Tarragona in 2020, which was pioneering for the rest of Spain. After the center’s positive reception, other units have been opened in various Catalan localities, such as La Seu d’Urgell, Terrassa (both managed by Intress), Granollers (Idea Foundation), and Barcelona (FASI), among others.

Deinstitutionalization

In Spain, in 2021, there were 48,357 children and adolescents in institutionalization, according to a study by the EDI project (Deinstitutionalization Study) in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030. On the other hand, the report Deinstitutionalization of the Child and Adolescent Protection System (Síndic de Greuges, 2023) states that in Catalonia, there are 32,481 children and adolescents –2.4% of the total– who live with their families but do not receive adequate care to ensure their optimal development and well-being.

Child institutionalization is a protective administrative measure in response to a situation that poses a risk to a child within their family. As a result, the child’s custody falls to the Public Administration, and various social entities take care of them through shelters, transition apartments to adult life, or residential centers, among others. According to the Síndic de Greuges report, the child and adolescent protection system not only functions to prevent maltreatment or ensure the safety of minors once these have occurred but also works on two fundamental lines:

  • Prevention: The most efficient way to protect children is through support measures for families, both materially and psychosocially, to support them in their parental functions.
  • Prioritize the return of the child to their family unit: Through family support, the main objective should be to overcome the situation of neglect that led to the separation.

In this regard, the report proposes evolving from a perspective based on “separate to protect” to a system based on “prevent to protect” and “protect for return“. However, in this institutionalization process, there are rights that may conflict. The EDI considers that, when articulating the protection system, the best interests of the C&A are often not prioritized. Consequently, institutionalization leads to social, psychological, and physical marginalization and restrictions, among others. The deinstitutionalization model is a process that aims to transform services for vulnerable people, accompanying them in their daily lives and providing follow-up without centralizing care in institutions. In the case of child protection, this perspective works to move towards a system that centers children’s rights and involves families as an essential element to ensure children’s well-being, with a preventive approach.

According to the EDI, a profound cultural change is necessary to successfully implement public policies based on children’s rights. In this sense, it is essential that professionals receive specific training to promote equity, justice, and the well-being of minors, as well as create personalized care models that prioritize children’s dignity, autonomy, and development. Another key measure, as pointed out by the study, is to include ethical audits as a complement to inspection and control instruments to specify the rights that come into conflict, the desirable standards, and the management and improvement systems focused on the best interests of C&A.

Worldwide, work is also being done along these lines. In Italy, the P.I.P.P.I. program (Intervention Program for the Prevention of Institutionalization) seeks to reduce child institutionalization in vulnerable families through a set of actions that address children’s needs. For example, through intensive home care, group activities with other families, and joint work with teachers and social workers.

Similarly, the Youth and Family Office project in Austria accompanies vulnerable families during the upbringing process through flexible advice adapted to each specific case. Through an approach where children and the family are at the center, the aim is to avoid institutionalization.

On the other hand, the Scottish entity Aberlour, through the Intensive Perinatal Support Service program, works to maximize the chances that babies can safely stay with their families. The project supports mothers during pregnancy and the baby’s first year, offering assistance in preparing for the baby’s arrival home, substance abuse recovery, and family bonding, among other services.

Technological Tools

In the field of social innovation, technology enables the creation of efficient tools to address various social problems. In the case of the protection of children and adolescents at risk, numerous initiatives combine technological knowledge with a social perspective. Below, we present four innovative projects in this field:

  • Rafiki (SOS Children’s Villages): Rafiki is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to support professionals caring for children and young people. It is an application that includes a digital assistant configured to answer questions in real time, with links to expand knowledge. In this way, social workers can make better decisions adapted to their context. The areas it covers are diverse, such as parenting, mental health, protection, or psychosocial support. The application has been implemented in countries such as Malawi, Nigeria, and South Africa.
  • Primero (UNICEF): Primero is an open-source technology platform that collects and manages data from children in emergency migration contexts to help social workers manage data related to child protection. The tools facilitate case management, incident tracking, migrant child tracking, and family reunification.
  • Kanjo (Andoain City Council): Kanjo is an application that systematically records the emotional state of adolescents through a tablet. Subsequently, an algorithm analyzes emotional patterns to detect risk cases early. The main function and objective of the program are to support children and adolescents in learning emotional management, as well as to prevent cases of risk and vulnerability.
  • AFST (Allegheny County): The Allegheny Family Screening Tool (AFST) is a Big Data system that provides social services professionals with an objective assessment of risk situations in child neglect. The tool, based on algorithms capable of interrelating a large amount of data, allows cases to be detected preventively and activates social intervention protocols.
  • FLAPP! (Fundació iSocial): Flapp! is a digital platform aimed at adolescents and young people aged 16 to 23 in situations of social fragility and in need of support. The application includes support tools that enhance their autonomy in the emancipation process. Among other resources, it includes a digital safe, an alarm button, and a chat that allows young people to connect with their reference professionals without either using their personal phone numbers. These tools enable social services and entities to establish a communication channel with young people and accompany them with greater guarantees.

Child protection encompasses different areas of intervention in social services, and it is important for professionals to be familiar with all of them to provide a coordinated response to the needs of children and adolescents. In this sense, the cases we have seen in this article are examples of this interdisciplinary and multifactorial approach. On the one hand, the Barnahus model improves efficiency in managing cases of child sexual abuse through coordination between various services; on the other hand, deinstitutionalization is a perspective that places children’s well-being at the center and works to prevent and reduce situations of uprooting; and finally, the different technological tools provide useful instruments to advance towards a more efficient and innovative social sector, capable of facing the new challenges of today’s society.

References

Barnahus en España. (n. d.). Children’s Rights. https://www.coe.int/es/web/children/barnahus-spain [04/06/24]

Barnahus, servei d’atenció a infants víctimes d’abusos sexuals. (February 22, 2024) Fundació iSocial. https://isocial.cat/barnahus-servei-atencio-infants-victimes-abusos-sexuals/ [04/06/24]

Estrategia de protección de la infancia. (n. d.). UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/es/documents/estrategia-de-protecci%C3%B3n-de-la-infancia#:~:text=La%20protecci%C3%B3n%20infantil%20es%20la%20prevenci%C3%B3n%20y%20la,del%20Ni%C3%B1o%20y%20los%20Objetivos%20de%20Desarrollo%20Sostenible [04/06/2024]

Estrategia estatal de desinstitucionalización. (December 18, 2023). Estrategia estatal de desinstitucionalización. https://estrategiadesinstitucionalizacion.gob.es/ [04/06/24]

El modelo Barnahus. (n. d.). Save The Children. https://www.savethechildren.es/modelo-barnahus [04/06/24]

Emantik, servei de detecció i atenció del malestar infantil i adolescent. (April 21, 2022) Fundació iSocial. https://isocial.cat/emantik-servei-de-deteccio-i-atencio-del-malestar-infantil-i-adolescent/ [04/06/24]

Infancia y juventud. (n.d). Proyecto EDI. https://estudiodesinstitucionalizacion.gob.es/infancia-y-juventud/ [04/06/24]

Ocón, J. (November, 2006). Normativa internacional de protección de la infancia. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27591862_Normativa_internacional_de_proteccion_de_la_infancia [04/06/2024]

Picontó, T. (June 22, 2016). Fisuras en la Protección de los Derechos de la Infancia. Cuadernos Electrónicos de Filosofía del Derecho. https://zaguan.unizar.es/record/64536/files/texto_completo.pdf [04/06/2024]

Primero, plataforma digital per a la protecció de la infància en contextos migratoris (June 7, 2022). Fundació iSocial. https://isocial.cat/primero-plataforma-digital-per-a-la-proteccio-de-la-infancia-en-contextos-migratoris/ [04/06/24]

Proyecto EDI. (n.d). Estudio sobre los procesos de desinstitucionalización y transición hacia modelos de apoyo personalizados y comunitarios: Niños, niñas y adolescentes. Observatorio de la Infancia. https://www.observatoriodelainfancia.es/oia/esp/descargar.aspx?id=8553&tipo=documento [04/06/24]

Rafiki uses artificial intelligence to support child and youth care practitioners. (May 17, 2022). Sos Children’s Villages. https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/news/rafiki-digital-care-assistant [04/06/24]

Síndic de Greuges. (November, 2023). Desinstitucionalització del sistema de protecció a la infància i l’adolescència. https://www.sindic.cat/site/unitFiles/9755/Informe%20centres%20de%20proteccio%20sencer_cat.pdf [11/06/24]

Violencia contra las niñas y los niños. (June 6, 2023). OPS/OMS | Organización Panamericana de la Salud. https://www.paho.org/es/temas/violencia-contra-ninas-ninos [04/06/24]

Vulnerabilidad y Exclusión en la Infancia. (n. d.). UNICEF España. https://www.unicef.es/publicacion/vulnerabilidad-y-exclusion-en-la-infancia [04/06/24]

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

Publications News

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

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Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences

Liège (Belgium) hosted the annual European meeting of the Rehab-Lab Network, focused on the design and 3D printing of personalized functional aids, on May 30 and 31.

About sixty participants from the 55 FabLabs within the network, spanning France, Belgium, Italy, Romania, and recently, Catalonia, attended. Representing Catalonia were Toni Codina, Director of the iSocial Foundation, and Felip Fenollosa, Research Director of the CIM Foundation at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). They represented the Rehab-Lab.cat 2023-2025 project, funded by the Next Generation funds.

Over two days, participants shared their knowledge and experiences in designing and 3D printing customized plastic parts that help improve personal autonomy in daily activities for people with disabilities.

During the meeting, the Catalan representatives, attending for the first time, had the opportunity to present the Rehab-Lab.cat project to the other European participants. Since 2023, this project has been implementing and expanding this innovative service in Catalonia to benefit people with disabilities.

Currently, Catalonia has its first two FabLabs for personalized functional aids, opened by the Ampans Foundation in Manresa and at the Guttmann Institute in Badalona. In 2024 and 2025, the iSocial Foundation plans to launch at least six more in various locations across Catalonia, in collaboration with disability sector organizations and with the support of other project partners: Avinent, CIM-UPC, Ampans, and Guttmann.

Additionally, the participants approved that the next annual meeting in 2025 will be held in Barcelona.

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Publications News

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

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Care4Skills

Care4Skills aims to address the needs of the Long-Term Care sector

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.

Care4Skills is a EU-funded project that aims to help Long-Term Care (LTC) workers understand how to apply person-centered care approaches and use digital technologies to provide better quality care and support across Europe. This project is the backbone of the Partnership for Skills in Long-Term Care, a cross-European coalition created in April 2023 to upskill and reskill professionals working in social care and support for persons with disabilities and older persons. One of the Partnership’s goals is to contribute to the annual training of at least 60% of the sector’s workforce.

At the meeting, Thomas Bignal, EASPD Secretary General, assured that Care4Skills will develop “cutting-edge training at the European level” and that, if the ambitions are met, it will mean “better quality care and support and better jobs for those who provide these services.”

The project brings together a large number of sector entities. Firstly, it includes six European networks: the EASPD, the European Ageing Network, Social Services Europe, the Federation of European Social Employers, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, and the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training. The project also includes 21 national organizations in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

The role of the iSocial Foundation within the project’s framework will be the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of the training program in Spain. To carry it out, it will analyze the Long-Term Care sector in Spain, identifying present and needed skills and competencies through the preparation of a diagnosis of existing gaps.

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

AISSS Alt Pirineu-Aran

Lab Innovation projects

AISSS Alt Pirineu-Aran

Projecte AISSS

Foto: Gemma Pla (Tucutun)

AISSS Alt Pirineu-Aran is an integrated Social and Healthcare project for unwanted loneliness among the elderly in the Alt Pirineu-Aran Regions (AISSS)

(2024-2025)

The Integrated Social and Healthcare Project for Unwanted Loneliness among the Elderly in the Alt Pirineu-Aran regions (AISSS Alt Pirineu-Aran) aims to tackle the challenge of unwanted loneliness through research aimed at expanding and strengthening the Vincles Alt-Pirineu Aran project by incorporating and involving the healthcare system.

Thanks to the collaboration with HISS (Hub of Social and Healthcare Innovation of Catalonia), which has selected the AISSS project in its 1st Call against Unwanted Loneliness, this project explores how to incorporate various data from the healthcare system and the perspectives of healthcare teams into the detection and intervention processes of the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project, in order to enable a common and integrated social and healthcare approach.

Unwanted loneliness and health

While it is true that unwanted loneliness is a phenomenon rooted in the social and emotional sphere, an increasing number of studies demonstrate the significant impact that loneliness can have on individuals, ranging from mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress, to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks.

Unwanted loneliness is also associated with a more sedentary lifestyle, as there are often few incentives to lead an active life. This factor can have serious health consequences and contribute to cognitive decline. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate the expertise of the healthcare sector both in detecting situations of unwanted loneliness and in intervening when necessary.

Big data for detecting unwanted loneliness

Both the Vincles project and AISSS are based on the successful experience of the Basque program Auzosare, promoted by Agintzari and Gislan, which combines a data analysis tool with direct community intervention. In the Vincles project, a set of 58 indicators is taken into account to classify all individuals over 65 years old according to their risk of experiencing unwanted loneliness, allowing for more proactive and preventive care for the entire population at risk of loneliness.

The goal of the AISSS project is to identify data and indicators from the healthcare system that can improve the accuracy of the loneliness risk algorithms of the Vincles project, and at the same time, determine the best ways for healthcare system agents to participate in the social intervention and community activation processes of the project.

Lideren:

Logo iSocial Foundation EN
Antares logo

Promotors:

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Logo Conselh Generau Aran
Logo CC Cerdanya
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En col·laboració amb:

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Finançat per:

Logo HISS

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

Publications News

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

,
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The five partner entities of the project will conduct guided workshops during the months of May and June with the users to detect the needs they have in their daily lives

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

The sessions will bring together people with disabilities linked to the entities that are part of the project to collaboratively detect the main obstacles this group faces in their daily lives.

The objective of these workshops, which will take place between May and June, is to generate a conversation among the people who fit the profiles defined by the project, to better understand their routines and observe the barriers they encounter. From everyday actions such as dressing, cooking, going out, taking public transportation, etc., to relational contexts such as leisure, the dialogues driven in these workshops will present different situations to jointly detect the pain points, a term referring to the existence of difficulties or needs not always detected or previously verbalized.

Users from the partner entities of the project (Ampans, Fundación El Maresme, FCSD, Support Girona, and the Alba association) will participate in the workshops, and the discussion topics will be adapted to their specific circumstances. Each workshop will have a total of between 4 and 8 participants and will last one hour. A person from each entity will also participate, facilitating the workshop, and a person will act as a rapporteur, noting all the information that arises.

These workshops will allow a better understanding of daily barriers and their context and will be the starting point for a reflection that, in a second phase of the project, will seek to design the best response to the observed obstacles.

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Publications News

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

,
Flapp

The professionals come from entities in Catalonia and across the State

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

The two tools, aimed respectively at young people with emancipation needs and people in situations of homelessness, will be used by the professionals of these entities in their accompaniment tasks. Thanks to these applications, users will be able to store and share documents and photos in the cloud and contact their reference professionals more easily without needing to have their phone number.

A total of 223 social professionals have attended the training sessions, both online and in-person. Some of the entities come from Catalonia, such as Intress, Resilis, or the Pere Claver Group itself. Other organizations, however, come from other territories of the State, such as Castilla y León, Aragón, Balearic Islands, and Asturias.

These data show the interest generated by these tools, which today already have, between the two, 292 professionals and 368 users registered on the platform, as well as 114 services activated.

For their part, Flapp! and Nidus continue to grow to meet the needs of their users and have recently incorporated two new features: the chat and the alarm button, which aim to facilitate direct contact with their reference professionals, especially in emergency situations, ensuring the best attention and support.

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

The iSocial Foundation participates in the First Social Services Conference

Publications News

The iSocial Foundation participates in the First Social Services Conference

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I Jornada Serveis Socials

iSocial has presented Nidus, a digital tool to support people experiencing homelessness, promoted jointly with the Pere Claver Group

Today, May 15th, we attended the I Jornada de Serveis Socials (1st Social Services Conference), organized by La Unió (Association of Health and Social Entities) at the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB).

Joan M. Adserà, president of La Unió, inaugurated the event and assured that all the entities present share “the purpose of building a national social services system that is equitable, sustainable, solvent, professionalized, and value-driven.”

During the conference, various social services professionals delivered different interventions. Toni Codina, director of the iSocial Foundation, participated in the round table “Cultural and Management Changes to Move Forward,” where innovative experiences in the sector were shared. In particular, he introduced Nidus, a digital tool to support people experiencing homelessness and the professionals who assist them, promoted jointly with the Pere Claver Group.

On the other hand, Marta Segura from the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya highlighted some challenges for social services, such as flexibility, innovation, care, the dignification of caregivers’ tasks, and the restoration of trust.

  

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

iSocial presents Vincles at the Caixaforum in Lleida

Publications News

iSocial presents Vincles at the Caixaforum in Lleida

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Vincles Caixaforum Lleida

The initiative, which aims to combat unwanted loneliness, is part of the projects approved by Fundación La Caixa in the 2024 call

Last Friday, May 10th, we attended the Caixaforum in Lleida to present Vincles at the event for the projects approved by Fundación La Caixa in the province for the 2024 call.

Toni Codina, director of the iSocial Foundation, and Gemma Valeri, coordinator of the Vincles project, participated in the event, where a total of 18 social projects related to the areas of poverty and social inclusion, people with disabilities or mental disorders, the elderly, and social action were presented.

During our turn, Gemma Valeri explained the importance of the Vincles project, a pioneering program that combines technology with community intervention to detect, prevent, and address situations of unwanted loneliness among the elderly in Alt Pirineu and Aran.

Vincles is an initiative jointly driven by the Basic Social Services of the Comarcal Councils of Alt Pirineu and the Conselh Generau d’Aran, with the participation of the Private Foundation Integra Pirineus, ABD Association for Welfare and Development, the Alba Jussà Association, and IDAPA, and the collaboration of Fundación “la Caixa” and the Diputación de Lleida. It is based on the successful experience implemented in several municipalities in the Basque Country by Agintzari S. Coop., a member of iSocial, and GISLAN. On April 10th, we held the first project presentation in La Seu d’Urgell, with the presence of the different organizations and entities involved.

We thank Fundació La Caixa for their support and trust in helping to ensure this project has the broadest possible impact among the population affected by situations of unwanted loneliness.

Actualitat

Grupo Servicio Sociales

The iSocial Foundation welcomes Grupo SSI as a new member organisation

Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados (SSI) is a Basque cooperative dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations.
Josep Maria Solé pren el relleu de Montse Cervera com a president

Change in Presidency: Josep Maria Solé Takes Over from Montse Cervera

Montse Cervera, President of iSocial since the foundation’s creation, steps down to make way for Josep Maria Solé.
Rehab-Lab meeting in Liège

iSocial and CIM-UPC Participate in the Annual Rehab-Lab Network Meeting in Belgium

A total of 55 entities from the Rehab-Lab network gathered in Liège to share their knowledge and experiences
Care4Skills

iSocial participates in the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels

Last Thursday, May 23rd, we attended the kick-off meeting of the Care4Skills project in Brussels, organized by the EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the entity leading the initiative.
Arranquen els tallers participatius de

The participatory workshops of the All By Myself project begin

This May, we inaugurated the first participatory workshops included in the research process of the All By Myself project, coordinated by the iSocial Foundation and supported by the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Flapp

23 social entities have been trained to use Flapp! and Nidus

Flapp! and Nidus, the two virtual safes created by the iSocial Foundation in collaboration with Pere Claver Group, are consolidating with the training offered so far to 23 entities.

Innovative perspectives to promote access to housing

Publications Articles

Innovative perspectives to promote access to housing

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Perspectives innovadores accés a l'habitatge

According to the UN, the lack of decent housing is a problem affecting over 20% of the global population. In Catalonia, nearly 60,000 people experience some form of residential exclusion. What innovative initiatives are being implemented worldwide to promote access to housing?

Housing, a global issue

Decent housing is a fundamental right recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) and the Spanish Constitution (Article 47). However, many individuals live in precarious situations and face difficulties in accessing housing. According to the UN, this is a global problem affecting over 20% of the world’s population. In Catalonia, although there are no updated data on the number of people sleeping rough, it is estimated that around 18,000 people experience homelessness, according to the Arrels Foundation. Additionally, data collected in the Framework for Addressing Homelessness in Catalonia (2022-2025) indicates that 58,930 people experience some form of residential exclusion or sleep rough. Furthermore, in Spain, there are 86.6 homeless individuals per 100,000 inhabitants, according to INE data. The main reasons for homelessness include being in a migratory situation (28.8%), losing employment (26.8%), and facing eviction (16.1%). These statistics are calculated according to official data, but they do not show the whole reality. Firstly, there are many uncounted cases and, secondly, there is invisible homelessness. This refers to all those people living in substandard housing or unsafe spaces.

The difficulty in accessing decent housing affects various segments of society, such as youth, individuals with different types of disabilities, and populations at risk of social exclusion.

ETHOS Classification

According to the ETHOS classification, a common typology used in Europe in the field of housing and residential exclusion, there are four groups of individuals in situations of housing vulnerability:

  • Roofless individuals: Includes those living in public spaces or staying in shelters without a fixed address.
  • Houseless individuals: Refers to anyone residing in service centers, women’s shelters, temporary accommodations for immigrants and asylum seekers, institutions such as prisons or hospitals, and supportive housing without a lease contract.
  • Individuals in insecure housing: Describes cases where individuals live in a home without legal title, are under legal notice of abandonment of the property, or live under the threat of domestic violence.
  • Individuals in inadequate housing: Includes living in temporary structures or shacks, housing not compliant with legislation, and overcrowded spaces.

The first two classifications refer to homelessness, and the last two refer to invisible homelessness.

Innovative perspective worldwide to promote access to housing

  • Social housing: The city of Vienna is a global benchmark in housing policy, with 220,000 publicly owned properties, compared to 11,500 in Barcelona. Additionally, the municipality promotes the creation of non-publicly owned social housing through the announcement of property sale contests for social renting, at prices lower than market prices, open to entities and companies. An essential requirement to be selected in the process is to have a social housing plan that promotes diversity, community, and equal opportunities. Additionally, there is a limit on the profits of real estate companies in the city, and the generated profits must be reinvested. As a result of this limitation, rents are more affordable, and access to housing by vulnerable groups is encouraged.

In countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, or Sweden, housing cooperatives are also common, based on lease transfer regimes. This implies collective ownership of the property by a cooperative. Its inhabitants pay a refundable entry fee, at prices below the market, and can use the housing for life. Additionally, all involved partners participate in the purchasing, design, and development process of the housing. It is, therefore, an alternative that promotes self-management and collective fabric.

In Barcelona, the ESAL Agreement, signed by Habicoop, Cohabitac, and XES, establishes a municipal framework for public-social-community collaboration, which seeks to streamline the expansion of the protected public housing stock in the city through rental promotions and use transfer regimes.

As for Catalonia, the Generalitat holds the rights of preemption and redemption regarding housing, which means that the administration has preference in the acquisition of housing that its owner wishes to transfer. The institution can exercise this right directly or indirectly, through entities competent in the matter.

On the other hand, the Empty Flats project, promoted by Hàbitat 3, an entity associated with the iSocial Foundation, offers social housing for people in vulnerable situations. The Barcelona City Council, in agreement with the organization, takes care of the rent and any possible refurbishment works. The aim is to ensure that the city’s empty properties can be made available to those who cannot afford market prices.

Similarly, in Mexico, the Renta tu Casa program offers abandoned and uninhabited houses to individuals with few resources or in situations of social vulnerability. The municipal authority pays a monthly rent to the property owner, and the user contributes with 350 Mexican pesos (approximately 20 euros) and five hours of community work.

  • Shared housing: In the Netherlands, the Mixed Living project promotes cohabitation between homeless individuals and economically vulnerable individuals in blocks of social housing. This formula streamlines the process of accessing shelter and promotes social reintegration.

In the same vein, Startblok is an innovative Dutch model that offers temporary and affordable rentals for young people and migrants, aged between 18 and 28. This space allows for the creation of a diverse community that operates through self-management of residents. The model proposed by Startblok favors, on the one hand, the social integration of newcomers and, on the other hand, allows combating the housing precarity of young people.

Similarly, the SällBo building in Sweden brings together young migrant individuals and elderly people to promote social cohesion between generations and cultures through affordable rentals.

  • Sustainable housing: In California, the Mutual Housing program offers sustainable and low-cost housing to the agricultural population of the area. The price of bills is very low, as the houses generate the same amount of energy they consume. In addition to energy efficiency, the project also includes other services such as digital literacy and affordable loans.

Similarly, the Mas Coop cooperative in France accommodates low-income families in ecological housing with communal spaces. The land and buildings belong to the entity, which acquired them through a state loan for social renting, and the fees for resident members are more affordable than market prices.

  • Technology: Technological tools can be useful in processing data related to housing supply. Kloosiv is a cooperative web platform that combines technology and social intervention to facilitate access to housing for vulnerable groups with difficulties paying rent. Similarly, the Vivenda platform uses technological supports to create a network that connects supply and demand from the parties involved in renovation processes, to combat insecure and poor-condition housing, at reduced prices.

The new formulas in the field of housing access represent an alternative to traditional schemes, with a special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups in society, to ensure access to this universal right for all individuals.

References

Mas Coop: una cooperativa de residentes intergeneracional, ecológica y solidaria – World Habitat. (2023, 6 julio). World Habitat. https://world-habitat.org/es/premios-mundiales-del-habitat/ganadores-y-finalistas/mas-coop-una-cooperativa-de-residentes-intergeneracional-ecologica-y-solidaria/ [13/05/24]

Renta tu casa – World Habitat. (2023, 6 julio). World Habitat. https://world-habitat.org/es/premios-mundiales-del-habitat/ganadores-y-finalistas/renta-tu-casa-mexico/ [13/05/24]

L’habitatge cooperatiu en cessió d’ús (Cohabitatge). Habicoop. (2024, 28 febrero). Habicoop. https://habicoop.cat/cessio-dus/ [13/05/24]

Vivienda Mutua en Spring Lake – World Habitat. (2019, 21 febrero). World Habitat. https://world-habitat.org/es/premios-mundiales-del-habitat/ganadores-y-finalistas/11215/ [13/05/24]

Tipología europea de sin hogar y exclusión residencial. FEANTSA. https://www.feantsa.org/download/ethos_spain-24518105836657575492.pdf [13/05/24]

VESTA, un projecte d’innovació social i treball compartit pel sensellarisme femení. (2021, 23 noviembre). Cohabitac. https://www.cohabitac.cat/vesta-un-projecte-dinnovacio-social-i-treball-compartit-pel-sensellarisme-femeni/ [13/05/24]

Cuando hablamos de innovación en vivienda social también hablamos de la calidad de vida. (s. f.). Vivienda. https://www.habitatge.barcelona/es/noticia/cuando-hablamos-de-innovacion-en-vivienda-social-tambien-hablamos-de-la-calidad-de-vida_1123422 [13/05/24]

Alvear, A. (2022, 11 noviembre). ¿Cómo pueden la innovación y la tecnología solucionar el déficit de vivienda? Ciudades Sostenibles. https://blogs.iadb.org/ciudades-sostenibles/es/como-pueden-la-innovacion-y-la-tecnologia-solucionar-el-deficit-de-vivienda/ [13/05/24]

La Sexta Columna. (2024, 23 febrero). El ‘secreto’ mejor guardado de Austria: así funcionan las viviendas cooperativas de alquiler público. LaSexta. https://www.lasexta.com/programas/sexta-columna/secreto-mejor-guardado-austria-asi-funcionan-viviendas-cooperativas-alquiler-publico-viena_2024022365d909dc4129260001d2feca.html [13/05/24]

El Parque Público de Vivienda. (2023, 6 abril). Vivienda. https://www.habitatge.barcelona/es/acceso-a-vivienda/el-parque-publico-de-vivienda [13/05/24]

Vivienda en cesión de uso. (2018, 24 octubre). Co-Vivienda Barcelona. https://cohousingbarcelona.cat/es/vivienda-cesion-uso/ [13/05/24]

Projecte «Pisos buits» BCN – Fundació Hàbitat3. (s. f.). Fundació Hàbitat3. https://www.habitat3.cat/projecte-pisos-buits-bcn

Conveni ESAL Ajuntament Barcelona – Habicoop. (2022, 20 abril). Habicoop. https://habicoop.cat/conveni-esal-ajuntament-barcelona/