Conference 'Therapeutic foster care for unaccompanied minors'

An increasing number of European countries opt for small-scale hosting of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in foster families. However, traumatic experiences and separation from family and confidants often require therapeutic foster care, with specific coaching, both for the young person and the foster parent(s).

The Erasmus+ project FORM developed a model of therapeutic foster care, a training course, and policy recommendations.

You can learn about the results during the  closing conference of this project on Thursday 28 November 2024.

Not only foster care workers, but also guardians, shelter workers, teachers, volunteers and psycho-social workers who come into contact with unaccompanied minors will certainly find inspiration at this conference.
 

Register now
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Programme

09:00-09:15: Start of the day around a coffee or tea 

09:15-09:30: Welcoming words and reflections to start the day 

  • Kathleen Emmery, head of the Centre for Family Studies 
  • Katja Fournier, researcher at the Centre for Family Studies 

09:30-10:10: Re-thinking therapeutic foster care for families with unaccompanied minors: the foster carer at the heart of the care network

  • Prof. dr. Patrick Meurs, analytic child and adolescent psychotherapist, director of the Sigmund Freud Institute Frankfurt, head of the Department of Psychoanalysis at the Institute of Erziehungswissenschaften of Universität Kassel, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences KU Leuven, lecturer at the Centre for Family Studies at Odisee University College Brussels. 

10:10-10:50: Community based care for unaccompanied minors: innovative pratices  

  • Prof. dr. Lucia de Haene, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (University of Leuven), family therapist and supervisor of the Transcultural Trauma Care for Refugees team at the Faculty Clinical Centre. 

10:50-11:00: Q & A

11:00-11:30: Coffee break 

11:30-11:50: A reflective guide to exile-sensitive practice in foster care

  • Corinna Poholski, Analytic child and adolescent psychotherapist apprentice & Scientific Associate at the Sigmund Freud Institute Frankfurt and the Department of Psychoanalysis at the Institute of Erziehungswissenschaften of Universität Kassel
  • and prof. dr. Patrick Meurs

11:50-12:10: Perspectives from Cyprus  

  • Maria Iacovou, Counseling Psychologist, Foster Care Department, "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center in Cyprus

12:10-12:30: Testimony from a social foster care worker from Italy 

  • Salesiani per Il Sociale 

12:30-13:00: From the model to foster care practices: renewed perspectives 

  • Julie van Gysel & Emel Tuncel, Pleegzorg Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

13:00-14:00: Lunch break

14:00-15:00: From practice to policy : a strong network and policy for therapeutic foster care (a multiperspective panel) 

Moderation: Elena Curtopassi, Social Policy Officer, ENSA [to be confirmed]

[members of the panel: to be added]

15:00-15:10: Q & A

15:10-15:30: Policy recommendations formulated in the FORM-project and conclusive remarks   

15:30-17:00: Festive and networking conclusion of the day around the creations of Unaccompanied Minors 

  • Including an expo, a short film and... a surprise :-) 

 

Registration & info

Venue: 

Odisee - Campus Schaarbeek
Avenue Huart Hamoir 136
1030 Brussels-Schaarbeek

How to reach us

Participation is free of charge but registration is required.

Register online: via this link