Around 15 families are currently helped every year in and around Ghent. After successful implementation of the project in the Ghent region, over the years other buddy operations have been started up in Flanders and the Netherlands and work is in progress to expand to a volunteer network. This will allow us to reach even more families.
The project was selected by the cabinet of then minister Lieten for subsidies within the framework of combating poverty. In addition, researchers from the King Baudouin Foundation were commissioned to map out care facilities for the underprivileged. In addition, Arteveldehogeschool was selected by the Province of East Flanders to design a website to better reach these vulnerable, young families in care provision.
The project was selected by the cabinet of then-minister Liesbeth Homans for subsidies within the framework of fighting disadvantage. With this project, 'A buddy at the Cradle' will be further expanded in Flanders to increase accessibility and continuity within the care landscape for expectant and young families in socially vulnerable situations. This is done by expanding the existing offer with a volunteer component, starting up two new buddy satellites in St-Niklaas and Ronse and setting up a learning network in which buddies reinforce each other.
Breaking-in game 'a buddy at the cradle'
In Flanders, one child in ten is born into opportunity poverty, in Brussels one in four. Poverty has a negative impact on the pregnancy outcome for mother and child, and on the child's chances of development. Professionals need knowledge about poverty and specific competences to provide appropriate care.
Starter pack
Within this research project, an instrument was developed to help acquire these competences. Besides providing specific knowledge on the impact of social determinants on pregnancy, this tool also allows to go through an empathy course during the different phases of the perinatal period. The target group consists of all medical and social care providers who come into contact with pregnant women (doctors, paramedics, social workers, staff from social organisations, volunteers), as well as students in medical, paramedical and social courses (medicine, midwifery, nursing, other paramedical courses, social work).
The board game can be played by a group of students or care providers during a formative moment. In developing the game, the principles of 'educational design' are applied, and the didactic and content development of the game take place simultaneously.
If you are interested and would like to play this game in your organisation, please contact us at gezondheid-en-zorg@arteveldehs.be.
Fragnant embedding game
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