Search

CO3

CO3

 

Violence in the family is a social issue which staff members of different organisations are often confronted with. A case study carried out among different services of the City of Antwerp, Belgium, showed that on average six organisations are in contact with the family concerned.

To be as efficient as possible, a better harmonisation between the services was necessary. Hence, in the City of Antwerp a permanent inter-agency collaboration has been set up between (1) the police and judicial authorities; (2) the aid and social care services; and (3) the local administrations. These partners are brought together as part of one client-oriented organisation: CO3.

By collaborating on the basis of a chain model, the different working methods are being tuned in to one another in a common action plan in which the family (the client) is at the centre. Each family is assigned to a ‘case manager’ who follows up the cooperation between the different organisations. Not only the violence which occurred is discussed, but also the underlying problems within the family. In order to prevent repetition, emphasis is laid on the protective factors. The strengths of the family (e.g., social network, relationship with the children) are the starting point of the action plan.

 

Contact:
- Province of Antwerp: Department Welfare and Health. Desguinlei 100, 2018 Antwerpen.
- City of Antwerp: Department Samen Leven, Grote Markt 1, 2000 Antwerpen

 

The project started in 2012 and is still running.
Last review: October 2015

 

Download documents

(the document list below will be filtered upon selecting an option)