Building a Systemic Response: Join Us for the EMBRACE Regional Conference
Young people’s mental health in Romania has reached a critical turning point. It is a challenge now recognized by specialists and authorities alike, but the solution cannot be found in isolation. To truly support our youth, we must move away from fragmented efforts and toward an integrated approach, one that weaves together the school, the family, the community, and the institutional system.
The upcoming EMBRACE Regional Conference is an invitation to this entire ecosystem. It is a call to action to build a collective, systemic response that ensures no child faces their struggles alone.
Bridging the Gap Through Collaboration
We are honored to be joined by a distinguished panel of contributors who are dedicated to this shared vision. These leaders bring expertise from international organizations, academic research, and digital innovation to help us build a stronger “safety net” for our children.
The following speakers have joined this collective effort and will share from their experience:
- Luminița Costache – Education Specialist at UNICEF Romania: With over 30 years of experience in education, project management, consulting, child protection, sociological research, and training. She coordinates UNICEF Romania’s education programme, promoting early childhood education, access to inclusive, quality education, and social-emotional learning and well-being in schools.
- Ștefan Cojocaru – University Professor and PhD at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, and President of HoltIS: He specializes in research methodology and the evaluation of social programmes, and is known for interventions based on appreciative methods in social work and child protection.
- Francesca Nicora – Education and child protection specialist at Terre des hommes Romania: He specializes in research methodology and the evaluation of social programmes, and is known for interventions based on appreciative methods in social work and child protection.
- Alexandru Holicov – Founder and CEO at Adservio: A leader in the digitalization of Romanian education, who has built a platform now present in over 2,500 schools, connecting 1,500,000 students, parents, and teachers.
Supporting the Front Line: Empowering Our Educators
The reality on the ground is stark: Romania currently has only one school counselor for every 500 students. This makes it almost inevitable that some children face socio-emotional difficulties without being noticed. Teachers are often the first line of support, but they cannot manage this weight alone.
Why a Systemic Approach?
A systemic response means that when a child is in need, the “safety net” is already in place. It means the teacher knows who to call, the parent feels supported by the school, and the community provides the necessary resources. This conference is where we map out those connections.
We invite you to join this collective effort on May 14th as we work to transform the landscape of mental health support in Romania. Together, we can build a future where well-being is at the heart of every child’s journey.
The conference is organized within the EMBRACE project, implemented by a consortium of partners – Fundatia Serviciilor Sociale Bethany (FSSB), Fundatia de Sprijin Comunitar (FSC), Asociatia “Bună Ziua, Copii din România”` (BZRO), Federatia Organizatiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Copil (FONPC), and Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL (EAC).
Funding Agency: EACEA – European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more about EMBRACE: embrace-future.eu
