The “CCOM” project aims to strengthen integrated child protection systems, promoting the active participation of boys and girls in the management of cases and decision-making processes involving child victims of domestic violence.

Through the application of international standards for the protection of children (Keeping Children Safe), the project introduces the “Children-Centred Operational Mechanism“, precisely “CCOM”, a child-centered operational mechanism, based on children’s rights and a trauma-sensitive approach. This model aims to improve communication, transparency and coordination between the different subjects involved in protection procedures, placing the child at the center of every intervention.

The CCOM mechanism is based on the “ANCHOR” (Acknowledge, Navigate, Connect, Hear & Reflect, Open Paths, Review) structure, designed to ensure that children are recognised, heard, accompanied and supported at all stages of the protection process.

The project involves the co-design of the CCOM mechanism together with children, adolescents and professionals in the sector, as well as its experimentation through real cases. The creation of “Local Practice Cycles” will also be promoted, i.e. local practice paths that will continue to be active even beyond the duration of the project, with the aim of monitoring and accompanying the integration of the CCOM mechanism into existing protection systems, helping to improve their functioning, coordination, and effectiveness.

The partners, jointly, will also create training materials for professionals in the sector, to encourage the transfer of knowledge and skills within the work teams. In this way, the project supports professionals in adopting coherent, transparent, and coordinated ways of working, ensuring that boys and girls are not only protected but also listened to and actively involved in decisions that affect their support path.

In addition, through the experimentation of the model in real cases, the project will allow to collect evidence, critical issues, and good practices useful for the formulation of policy recommendations. These recommendations can be integrated into protection systems and taken into account to improve their functioning and effectiveness.

Partnership:

• Association for the Prevention and Management of Family Violence (Cyprus) – Coordinating Partner
• Inima De Copil Foundation (Romania)
• Hintalovon Foundation for Children’s Rights (Hungary)
• Municipality of Mislata (Spain)
• Municipality of Valenzano (Italy)
• Institute of Applied Biosciences (Psychology Lab) – Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (Greece)
• NGO Innovation Hive (Greece)