Research and Innovation for and with Adolescent Young Carers to Influence Policy and Practice—The European Union Funded “ME-WE” Project

Elizabeth Hanson, Francesco Barbabella (), Lennart Magnusson, Rosita Brolin, Miriam Svensson, Stecy Yghemonos, Valentina Hlebec, Irena Bolko, Licia Boccaletti, Giulia Casu, Renske Hoefman, Alice H. de Boer, Simone de Roos, Sara Santini, Marco Socci, Barbara D’Amen, Frans Van Zoest, Nynke de Jong, Henk Herman Nap, Yvonne de Jong, Tamara Bouwman, Feylyn Lewis, Tom Parkhouse, Agnes Leu, Daniel Phelps, Elena Guggiari, Vicky Morgan, Francesca Centola, Stephen Joseph and Saul Becker
Additional contact information
Elizabeth Hanson: Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
Francesco Barbabella: Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
Lennart Magnusson: Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
Rosita Brolin: Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
Miriam Svensson: Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
Stecy Yghemonos: Eurocarers, 14 Rue Père de Deken, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Valentina Hlebec: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva pl. 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Irena Bolko: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva pl. 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Licia Boccaletti: Anziani e Non Solo Società Cooperativa Sociale, Via Lenin 55, 41012 Carpi, Italy
Giulia Casu: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Renske Hoefman: The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), Postbus 16164, 2500 The Hague, The Netherlands
Alice H. de Boer: The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), Postbus 16164, 2500 The Hague, The Netherlands
Simone de Roos: The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), Postbus 16164, 2500 The Hague, The Netherlands
Sara Santini: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Aging, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Marco Socci: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Aging, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Barbara D’Amen: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Aging, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Frans Van Zoest: Vilans–The National Centre of Expertise for Long-Term Care in The Netherlands, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 Utrecht, The Netherlands
Nynke de Jong: Vilans–The National Centre of Expertise for Long-Term Care in The Netherlands, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 Utrecht, The Netherlands
Henk Herman Nap: Vilans–The National Centre of Expertise for Long-Term Care in The Netherlands, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 Utrecht, The Netherlands
Yvonne de Jong: Vilans–The National Centre of Expertise for Long-Term Care in The Netherlands, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tamara Bouwman: Vilans–The National Centre of Expertise for Long-Term Care in The Netherlands, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 Utrecht, The Netherlands
Feylyn Lewis: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Godchaux Hall 226, 461 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
Tom Parkhouse: School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RG, UK
Agnes Leu: Department Health, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, Gloriastrasse 18a, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
Daniel Phelps: Department Health, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, Gloriastrasse 18a, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
Elena Guggiari: Department Health, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, Gloriastrasse 18a, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
Vicky Morgan: Carers Trust, 32–36 Loman Street, London SE1 OEH, UK
Francesca Centola: Eurocarers, 14 Rue Père de Deken, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Stephen Joseph: School of Education, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Saul Becker: School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RG, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-33

Abstract: Young carers are children and adolescents who provide care to other family members or friends, taking over responsibilities that are usually associated with adulthood. There is emerging but still scarce knowledge worldwide about the phenomenon of young carers and the impact of a caring role on their health, social and personal development spheres. This paper provides an overview of the main results from the ME-WE project, which is the first European research and innovation project dedicated to adolescent young carers (AYCs) (15–17 years). The project methods relied on three main activities: (1) a systematization of knowledge (by means of a survey to AYCs, country case studies, Delphi study, literature review); (2) the co-design, implementation and evaluation of a primary prevention intervention addressing AYCs’ mental health (by means of Blended Learning Networks and a clinical trial in six European countries); (3) the implementation of knowledge translation actions for dissemination, awareness, advocacy and lobbying (by means of national and international stakeholder networks, as well as traditional and new media). Project results substantially contributed to a better understanding of AYCs’ conditions, needs and preferences, defined tailored support intervention (resilient to COVID-19 related restrictions), and significant improvements in national and European policies for AYCs.

Keywords: young carers; mental health; social exclusion; primary prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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