MAIN STRENGTHS AND KEY CHALLENGES
Access to education
The project promotes better access to education. Children are enrolled
in state-run schools, and the organisation has signed memorandums
of understanding with local schools. FADV also works with schools to
raise awareness among teachers and parents. The project staff helps
asylum-seeking families to communicate with school administrators
and teachers.
Family care planning
A customised family care plan is developed which takes into consider-
ation children’s needs. The project has developed a range of planning
tools such as a self-evaluation form that family members fill in upon
arrival in the centre with the support of the staff.
Capacity building for primary caregivers
FADV provides activities and workshops to develop parental skills and
promote families’ self-reliance in their new sociocultural environment.
Parents receive orientation and information on public services, the
healthcare and education systems and employment opportunities.
Service quality
The centre staff receive regular external supervision and support.
FADV provides continuous staff training on pedagogical topics, while
FADV’s partner Foundation Patrizio Poletti provides cultural sensitivi-
ty training. The project has also developed its own monitoring, assess-
ment and case management tools; it oversees children’s health, their
emotional and cognitive skills and parents’ progress towards becoming
self-sufficient in Italy.
Child protection policy
In addition to activities to strengthen parental skills, the project offers
individual and family counselling for parents, family mediation and
psychological interventions for families in crisis.
FADV also monitors children’s well-being by visiting families in their
homes, and professional staff are available 24/7. If there are signs of
neglect, parents and children are interviewed separately, and parents
get help in addressing the causes of harmful behaviours. Cases of abuse
and violence are referred to the competent authorities.
Enhance cooperation
FADV participates in a number of networks and is part of the coordina-
tion unit of the Municipality of Milan (Cabina di Regia), which provides
a platform for NGOs working with migrants and asylum seekers to
discuss challenges and to share examples of best practice.
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