Welcome to Family Solutions

The Family Solutions Initiative is a solution-based response to the growing need and desire by families in our community to find easy to understand and accessible family support services. Providing full-scope information on a wide array of parental concerns, this initiative seeks to connect the Dutch and expat services to provide sustainable long-term solutions. These solutions are structured in a simple format which builds on the strengths of our ever-changing and dynamic community. First, in collaboration with the Hague University (De Haagse Hogeschool), practitioners Brandi McCollum, Cognitive Behavioral Consultant M.Ed., of Family Centered Consulting Services (FCCS) and Deirdre Budd, Sleep Consultant R.G.N. H.V. Dip.R., of Dream-Angus established a survey to take the pulse of the current needs of expat families in our community along with pin pointing the gap between services and access to create practical solutions. Next, as host FCCS coordinated two conferences to bring action to the knowledge gained by the community response. The first conference brought together the international and Dutch family support service providers for a day of information, sample workshops, ask the expert discussions and resources. The second conference, International Special Needs Resource Conference, united the resources of the Dutch and international special needs communities, providing much needed resources to families in both respective communities to help them move from coping to thriving in the Netherlands.

The 2009 International Family Support Services Conference was held June 6th, 2009 and the International Special Needs Resource Conference was held June 14th, 2009.

The initiative was founded in response to the findings of the Gemeente Den Haag, 2005 Decisio Rapport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008 IOB Rapport.