Europlacer Italia and A.B.C.
Published: June 1, 2022
‘Together for the care and emotional support of surgical children and their families’
All Europlacer branches have chosen certain charities to which we will donate our support for 2021 and 2022 – the Italian branch has chosen the association “A.B.C, Associazione per i Bambini Chirurgici del Burlo onlus”, which is based in Trieste, Italy.
Who ABC is
Since 2005, A.B.C. Associazione per i Bambini Chirurgici del Burlo onlus has been supporting children born with malformations requiring complex and repeated surgical treatment, who are hospitalised at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo surgery in Trieste, and their parents. It assists families with free accommodation in 4 houses in Trieste and supports them emotionally and psychologically. It supports the Burlo with specialist equipment, scientific research and staff training. It supports the surgery department so that it is increasingly child-friendly.
The A.B.C. model
A.B.C. has developed a model of action that involves supporting the surgical child within his or her family unit. According to this model, the child’s well-being is closely linked to that of his or her family, which is recognised and supported in its entirety, from the point of view of organisational, economic and psychological needs.
A.B.C. Associazione per i Bambini Chirurgici del Burlo onlus, works to support children and their parents from an emotional and psychological point of view with projects that work alongside the young patients and families, accommodating concerns and supporting them step by step during and after hospitalisation.
Because of the malformations with which they are born, surgical children, aged a few months or years, face prolonged and repeated hospitalisations and complex operations. This is a real condition that has a strong impact on the child and the whole family.
Family supported by A.B.C.
The aim of the project is to create a welcoming and listening space in which the family can be followed from an emotional and experience point of view, in presence during hospitalisation and at a distance, once the child is discharged, so that it can remain close to the families and children on a long-term basis.
Family supported by A.B.C
Families are accommodated free of charge in the four A.B.C. homes.
The reception aims to provide not only organisational support, but also emotional support, to guarantee a space in which to be a family, to be able to recharge in a comfortable place and to face the entire period of hospitalisation together.
To accompany the young patients and their parents, there is also the A.B.C. psychologist, who is present every day of the week in the Burlo’s surgery ward to offer families free psychological and emotional support.
In close connection with all this, A.B.C. works to create an increasingly child-friendly ward, to ensure that children are hospitalised in a welcoming environment. This is done with the help of a large group of volunteers who, with games and activities, ensure that the ward is cheerful and lightens the emotional impact of a long hospital stay.
Family supported by A.B.C.
In recent years, we are witnessing an ever-increasing number of requests for care and support. The health emergency has also worsened the economic and emotional conditions of families. Parents have been exposed to additional worries about their children’s health, and current social distancing rules stipulate that only one parent at a time can enter the ward, making the experience of children and their families during hospitalisation even more complex.
Finally, the general worsening of the economic situation reflects on families who face long and demanding periods away from home. This creates a greater need in terms of shelter and logistical support.
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Results achieved in 2020 |
Results expected in 2021 |
|---|---|
|
67 families welcomed in A.B.C. homes |
100 families welcomed in A.B.C. homes |
|
93 welcomes held in A.B.C. homes (some families return to the homes several times during the year) |
120 welcomes held in A.B.C. homes |
|
77 families supported emotionally and psychologically |
150 families supported emotionally and psychologically |
In view of the overall situation, the aim for 2021 and 2022 is to strengthen reception and psychological support projects. We therefore plan to allocate Europlacer’s valuable contribution to these two important activities.
In 2021, we expect growth in terms of the number of shelters and families supported within the surgery department.
In the next 12 months, thanks to Europlacer’s support, we will be able to provide care for all 25 families we plan to welcome in an A.B.C. House.
In addition, 33 families will be supported emotionally during their child’s hospitalisation.
We will therefore reach 58 families, with a total impact on at least 174 persons (considering average households of three persons).
