Course "Analysing the impact of policies and practices with FamILens"

The course, which is part of the continuing education offer of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, introduces the theme of the family impact of policies, services and practices, highlighting the advantages of a think family approach. The aim is to provide theoretical and operational tools to assess how public and organisational decisions can affect the lives of families, both in their direct effects and in their unintended consequences.

After an introduction to the key concepts of family welfare and well-being, the course distinguishes between family impact assessment and analysis, illustrating methodological differences and practical implications. The FamILens model is then presented, a framework based on six guiding principles, which makes it possible to examine the impact of policies and services on family relationships and on the family's ability to be an active protagonist in the production of the common good.

A specific focus is dedicated to the construction and use of checklists, tools that translate the principles of FamILens into practical indicators. The course guides participants in the creation of ad hoc checklists for specific contexts (e.g. family mediation, child protection, human resources, social services) and in the use of the General FamILens Checklist, consisting of 38 items. This checklist offers an exploratory view of family impact and can be applied in private companies, third sector organizations and public bodies.

The course has a practical and applicative approach, based on participatory research-action methods. Participants will learn not only theoretical concepts, but also operational tools to analyze and improve the family impact of policies, programs, and interventions.

The course is divided into 4 modules and 18 video lessons, for a total of 126 minutes: a video version, an audio-only version and a text version are available on the platform. 

Enrolling in the course is free. The production of the course has been fully funded by Università Cattolica, as part of its programmes for the promotion and dissemination of scientific research – Line D32-2022

Those who participate in the course and obtain the Open Badge will be able to access the online compilation of the Checklist for Family Impact Analysis.

The course is aimed at:

• Welfare operators (psychologists, social workers, health workers, etc.), who work in the planning and management of services aimed at families.
• Policymakers and public administrators, interested in integrating the family perspective into local and national government decisions.
• Human resource managers, who want to assess the impact of company policies on the quality of family life of employees.
• Third sector professionals, who deal with services and interventions for families and want to adopt more structured assessment tools.
• Researchers and consultants, interested in understanding and applying family impact analysis methodologies.
• University students, doctoral students, postgraduate students in particular in the sociological, psychological, business, economic, health, and legal areas who want to acquire skills with respect to the impact of their disciplines on the well-being of family relationships