Sustainable municipal and regional development at the expample of the youth welfare service network INTEGRATION (Emmental) (Nachhaltige Gemeinde- und Regionalentwicklung am Beispiel des Jugendhilfe-Netzwerks INTEGRATION)

Best Practice

Topics

• Regional value added
• Governance capacity, Policies and instruments

Short description

The structural change has an outstanding impact on the economically weak Emmental, since it primarily depends on agriculture. On the other hand, the region has resources that are mainly of immaterial (intact family structures, cultural landscape). The network of the youth welfare service INTEGRATION is based on these strengths. The placing of children from Swiss urban agglomerations with farmer families not only promotes the exchange between urban and rural areas but also the regional development.

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Project executive

Until the end of 2004 the association “INTEGRATION” was the responsible body of the project. Since the first January 2005 the newly established foundation “Stiftung Integration Emmental “has taken the sponsorship of the youth welfare service network as well as of further projects in the fields of society, economy and environment. Among other things the foundation aims to implement the model of the sustainable development of the community and the region in the mountain area Napf. The foundation board is composed transdisciplinary. Responsible Person: Haldemann Ueli Stiftung Integration Emmental Suttenweidli, 3536, Aeschau, CH mu.haldemann@bluewin.ch +41 34 408 40 20 +41 34 408 40 21

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Participants

Responsible body: foundation „Stiftung Integration Emmental“. Office: Urs Kaltenrieder, Susanne Frutig (Atelier ASPOS, Dielsdorf ZH). Project team: Atelier ASPOS as well as Dr. med. P. Frey (confidence psychiatrist), Jörg Wetzel (lic phil nat, atelier georegio, project leader expanding phase III); partner families; remedial pedagogic dayschool: Katrin Bühler; attending group quality: Integras (Association for remedial and social pedagogy); governors Signau and Trachselwald; regional social services; Federation: Seco

Objectives

The actual expanding phase of the youth welfare service network aims to expand the placing model and the experiences from the pilot- and development phase to further municipalities in the region Emmental. Apart from the general aim of the foundation to implement the sustainable development of the community and the region with measures in all three dimensions of sustainability, the following results are striven for: directing the offer of qualified placing possibilities at the future demand; creating innovative sideline options for farmer families in the region Emmental; qualified employments at expert units and in the day school; introducing and promoting the region Emmental with specific public relations; creating new value creation chains in economic (project idea “Money+Spirit”) and environmental fields (cultivated landscape and living space in the Napf area) in addition to the social oriented youth welfare service network.

Activities

Based on the first successes with the accommodation of children with farmer families in the Emmental, the first “Eggwiler Symposium” was carried out in 1998. The promotion of a relationship between urban and rural areas in partnership is the central point of this event. In 2005, already the 8th symposium was carried out (“Economic centres and rural areas – potential synergies”). Starting from an earlier symposium the “Eggwiler Institute” was founded. It deals with the sustainable development in economically underdeveloped regions and, in addition, it is a platform for the launching of specific topics such as the regional economic project “Money+Spirit” or of a well visited convention about the "Verdingkinderwesen". Among other things, the project “cultivated landscape and living space” as well as an institutional collaboration with the European specialised network “Farming for Health” are being developed.

Process

In the project the method of systemic organizational development was used.

Results

Placing of more than 60 children and teenagers in families since 1998; growing network of partner families (12 in the municipality Eggiwil, 60 families in the region are aspired); Creation of value of roughly 6 Mio CHF during the last seven years (Aim: 5 Mio per year); creation of about 40 part-time working places in a financially weak region; development of a triennial training course for partner families; foundation of the Eggwiler Institute for the sustainable regional and municipal development (www.eggiwiler-institut.ch); initiative and realisation of the annual Eggwiler Symposium for the cooperation between rural and urban areas; numerous events and public relations; indirect profit for the region by image benefits, stimulation of the gastronomy, the tourism and the local industry; increased quality of semi-professional placing in families in Switzerland; regional and international cooperation and exchange of experiences concerning regional development.

Evaluation

No evaluation information available.

Difficulties

The development and establishment of the project „INTEGRATION“ as well as the following activities were carried by private parties without external funds. A Region Plus credit was given not until the actual expanding phase III. In general the involved persons and companies work as entrepreneurs and carry the risk themselves. This makes it possible to react flexible on the actual difficulties, which mainly result from the low financial capacities in the social sector.

Budget

3'455'520 (Euro)

Financial backer

Project development and establishment pre-financed by Atelier ASPOS 300'000 EUR Self-financing (gains from project placings): 2'783'555 EUR Regio Plus contribution from seco/Switzerland: 671'965 EUR

Source of information

other contact

Mr Urs Kaltenrieder
aspos
Mühleweg 6, 8157 Dielsdorf, Switzerland
info@stiftung-integration.ch
+41 44 840 49 55

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www-stiftung-integration.ch

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Generating an additional income for farmer families and enabling a therapy for urban children in an intact environment, the project youth welfare service network INTEGRATION indirectly contributes to the conservation of the cultivated landscape of the Emmental. Thus, it contributes to the perpetuation of the decentralised settlement. The project cultivated landscape and living space converts former elements of the cultivated landscape (e.g. mills) to new purposes (e.g. power generation), which facilitates their conservation.

Economic value added

The activities of the foundation generate an added value of several Mio EURO, which are very welcome in the economically disadvantaged Napf region (numbers can be found under “Results”). The current model “Money+Spirit” supports the local economy by developing innovative ideas up to the readiness for marketing and by providing the necessary credits for the investments. A pilot project is called “Trisaol”, a new cutting technique for Emmentaler silver firs.

Socio-cultural value added

Teenagers: experience fondness and orientation in a familial frame and a natural environment. Society and culture: financial support, self-confidence and additional qualifications, maintenance of traditional values. Genders: Women take over an important position in supporting foster children. By working at the barnyard the “dad” is also present during the day. In many cases there are three generations are together. Numbers: until now, more than 60 children were placed at about 16 partner families.

Innovative content

The youth welfare service network INTEGRATION differs from common programs by its systematic approach and the consequent orientation on sustainable regional and municipal development. The well-being of the children and the quality of the caregiving positions always have first priority. Precise agreements with the authorities guarantee the necessary compatibility with municipal- and scholar structures. Furthermore, the systemic approach facilitates the comprehensive development of the system region.

Good governance

Future partner families are not the only ones to fulfil strict requisitions. The commitment of the municipal and supervisory school authorities is an important basis for the development of new family positions. In addition, there is an active exchange with concerned cantonal and federal authorities. Accordingly, the composition of the foundation board is multifaceted. The expert unit aims at communicating the quality criteria outwards. Therefore, a concomitant group has been formed.

PR impact

Due to the media (press, radio, TV 10 vor 10, Rundschau) the activities are known to a broad, national public. The newest product is a brochure that summarises them. A further publication that addresses the issues of the offers of the youth welfare service network is in process. The effectiveness can be measured on the basis of the number of press reports and public comments and events of the foundation.

Multiplier effect / networking

Currently, the model of the partner family network and the youth welfare service is being expanded to further municipalities. Enlarging plans are being discussed with representatives of the RegioHER (planning association, biosphere Entlebuch, etc.). There is also a parthership with the foundation Juvenat, a therapeutic home in the canton Obwalden. Since one year, there is developmental- and experiential exchange between experts from the network “Faring for Health” on an international level.

Transferability

The model youth welfare service network has been developed in a municipality in Emmental. Actually, the experiences are now being expanded to other municipalities. The model is based on regionally typical premises that do not necessarily exist in any other region. An investigation of Dr. med. P. Frey has shown that factors such as spacious farms, the environment, the settlement structure and traditional families are important factors for the therapeutic success of the work with the teenagers.

Remarks

No remarks

Further information