The Formentera Office of Social Welfare is launching a family foster care service for at-risk and underage islanders. This service, as Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, pointed out, aims to allow "children who are under the guardianship of local government to be hosted by an alternative family temporarily".

Ramírez pointed out that the Consell "has increased the number of professionals working with minors, planned a care home to serve at-risk children under 12 and now is launching this new service; all to protect the interests of vulnerable and at-risk minors".

"As an administration we have an obligation to protect islanders who are not yet 18, and we consider that with this service we can offer underage youth the best possible family environment in which to grow up", said Ramírez, who also believes that "a foster family has the opportunity to love, educate and provide a safe home to minors who need it".

Family screenings and training

Formentera families who join the programme will undergo screening and receive training from Consell de Formentera staff. This team will also support host families on an ongoing basis. The service will evaluate applications based on various criteria and economic, personal and socio-family factors.

This foster family programme is framed by regulations that include financial assistance for parenting support and training. "Economic costs should not factor into the decision to foster or into the care that children receive", stressed  Ramírez.

To raise awareness, sensitise Formentera residents and interest more families in hosting, the Consell has launched the campaign 'Open Your Home and Grow as a Family' (Obre ca teua i creix en família).

Interested parties can contact Formentera Office of Social Welfare at 971 321 271 or by email at benestarsocial@conselldeformentera.cat.

21 March 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Social Welfare, with support from the Volunteer Platform of the Balearic Islands (Plataforma del Voluntariat, PVIB), has begun the process to draft and deploy a local plan to elevate, promote and support volunteering on Formentera. For this reason, current proposals envision a preliminary diagnosis intended to determine the reality of the island's network of associations, characteristics of local volunteers and the perspective of authorities in the public administration.

Data will be collected chiefly through anonymous questionnaires, which will be used to collect information that will be adapted to Formentera as much as possible and that addresses real needs on the island.

The surveys will be administered to volunteer workers and non-profit organisations until 3 April.

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR VOLUNTEERS - DIAGNOSIS OF VOLUNTEERING ON FORMENTERA

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS - DIAGNOSIS OF VOLUNTEERING ON FORMENTERA

18 March 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Social Welfare reports that the Pine Islands Cooperation Fund (Fons Pitiús de Cooperació, FPC) has opened an account to collect contributions from institutions and private citizens to support refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The Consell, which currently holds the FPC vice-presidency, is pleased to join this initiative. Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, called it "the best way to ensure the funds reach their destination through organisations working on the ground, and that they translate into real help". To that end, FPC has launched a campaign to support the refugee population and donations, both public and private, can be made to the bank account with the following IBAN: ES21 2056 0015 6420 9145 8527

Money collected in this account will be used to support municipalities that share a border with Ukraine, offering resources like materials to cover basic needs and adapt infrastructure to assist refugees.

14 March 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today the participatory committee met to address Formentera's Island Plan on Drugs, Screens and Games, which is being prepared by the Formentera Office of Social Welfare (Conselleria de Benestar Social, CBSF), and the political committee will convene tomorrow. The goal, according to Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, is a "clearer picture of the population and the engagement of political groups". This plan is currently being prepared and will set out strategies and actions over the next four years for education, family, leisure and community.

Supported by Fundación Salud y Comunidad, a participation-based committee is essential for a realistic diagnosis and, above all, compliance with the plan once it is implemented by all stakeholders. The committee is made up of technical personnel from a variety of areas and administrations and members of the general public. Efforts have also been made to include youth organisations and other groups and individuals that are closely related to the subject. As part of the initiative, surveys were administered among islanders at large and teens at Marc Ferrer High School to shine a light on respondents' experiences with substances and technology.

Political committee

Tomorrow the committee formed by Ana Juan, President of the Consell, a secretary and members of political parties with representation in the Consell de Formentera plenary, will gather for the first time since the plan has been under development. This committee, as highlighted by Councillor Ramírez, "will highlight limits and potentialities whilst the plan is being developed and seek to address proposals in the final document to secure political backing".

9 March 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera