The collaboration between services in fields such as education, health, social work, and welfare, among others, is increasingly recognized as central to tackle social and educational inequalities. Identifying promising practices in this scope is needed to increase outreach, timely access, and effectiveness of services for socioeconomically disadvantaged children and families.

Our team interviewed heads of service providers, coordinators, and local government representatives on facilitating factors, barriers, and impacts related to the collaborative work of services for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families.

This study was presented at the 2019 EECERA Conference (Thessaloniki, Greece).

Click here to read the presentation - authored by ISOTIS researchers Catarina Leitão, Joana Guerra, and Clara Barata (University of Coimbra)

This study was also presented at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Coimbra, during the Faculty anniversary celebration, on November 5.

Click here to read the poster in Portuguese - authored by ISOTIS researchers Clara Barata, Joana Guerra, Catarina Leitão and Rita Pratas (University of Coimbra)

The results of the study highlighted:

- The relevance of providing political and organizational support, ensuring sustained funding and continuity of human resources , and the appropriate allocation of time and tasks .

- The importance of involving locally based services and professionals, and citizens in the development and evaluation of interventions, so that they answer to existing needs.

- The priority of assessing impacts and monitoring collaborative work between services.

Click here to read the executive summary about the study