Heart of a Child Foundation, together with a consortium of organizations and public authorities from six European countries, is launching the Children-Centred Operational Mechanism for Welfare Services (CCOM) project.
Funded through the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV-2025-DAPHNE), the project aims to help transform the way child protection systems respond to the needs of children who are victims of domestic violence, placing the child at the centre of intervention and decision-making processes.
The Child – An Active Participant in Their Own Protection Process
The CCOM project promotes a shift in perspective: from a system focused primarily on procedures and institutions to one in which children are listened to, involved, and supported to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.
To achieve this, the project will use the innovative ANCHOR framework (Acknowledge, Navigate, Connect, Hear & Reflect, Open Paths, Review), which provides professionals with practical tools for rights-based communication adapted to each child’s age, developmental level, and individual needs.
The methodology is designed for social service specialists and all professionals who interact with children exposed to or affected by domestic violence.
Project Objectives
Through the implementation of the CCOM project, the partners aim to:
- Increase children’s participation in decision-making, with at least 80% of participating children confirming that their views have been heard and taken into account.
- Develop the CCOM operational mechanism, an innovative tool co-created with professionals and children that will standardize interventions and integrate child participation into decision-making processes.
- Train professionals in participatory communication techniques and trauma-sensitive approaches, enabling them to respond more effectively to the needs of children affected by domestic violence.
- Strengthen local child protection systems through the development of Local Practice Cycles, mechanisms designed to support the implementation and monitoring of the CCOM model beyond the lifetime of the project.
A European Partnership
The project runs for 24 months, starting in March 2026, and brings together the expertise of seven organizations and public authorities from six European countries:
- SPAVO (Cyprus) – Project Coordinator;
- Heart of a Child Foundation (Romania);
- Hintalovon Child Rights Foundation (Hungary);
- Municipality of Mislata (Spain);
- Municipality of Valenzano (Italy);
- CERTH (Greece);
- Innovation Hive (Greece).
Heart of a Child Foundation’s Contribution
With nearly 30 years of experience in providing social services for vulnerable children and families, Heart of a Child Foundation will contribute to the development and testing of inclusive methodologies and strategies that promote the meaningful participation of children in decisions that affect them.
“Children who are victims of domestic violence go through extremely difficult experiences, and the number of such cases remains a serious concern both in Romania and across Europe. Decisions made for their protection can have a lifelong impact. It is therefore essential that every child’s voice is heard and that their views are taken into account, in accordance with their age and developmental level.
The CCOM project gives us the opportunity to explore, together with our European partners, ways in which child participation can become a more consistent practice in child protection interventions.”
Anna-Cristina Burtea
Executive Director, Heart of a Child Foundation
About Heart of a Child Foundation
Heart of a Child Foundation is a non-governmental organization established in 1996 that develops programs for vulnerable children, people with disabilities, and families facing hardship.
For nearly 30 years, the Foundation has provided social, educational, and therapy services, implemented programs to prevent school dropout, and supported the inclusion of children and young people in their communities.
The organization also implements national and international projects and promotes innovative solutions to strengthen child protection systems and advance children’s rights.
Through its involvement in the CCOM project, Heart of a Child Foundation reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the development of child-centred services in which children’s voices and participation are respected and valued.
For more information about the project, please contact:
Anna-Cristina Burtea – Executive Director, Heart of a Child Foundation
[email protected]
+40 741 159 171
www.inimadecopil.ro
Project Coordinator – SPAVO
Filio Kyriacou
[email protected]
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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