The Centre for Family Studies

From the strength of families, strengthening the connection between individuals and society is our motto.

• Families are the first context in which people develop. We strive for a society that gives all families the best opportunities in a fair way.
• Families are diverse in composition, background and philosophy. We strive to provide families with a framework that draws on their strengths and guards the basic rights of each family member.
• Families are dynamic and constantly take on new roles at different stages of life. We strive to put the perspective of families at the centre of all areas. We ask for special attention for families living in precarious conditions.
• Families are strong but also vulnerable. We believe in the motivation of parents and children to work for the well-being of each family member.

From the perspective of families:

• we conduct practice-based, policy-preparatory and -advisory scientific research
• we offer community services, interacting with the field;
• we give lectures, training and retraining;
• we encourage debate about families, relationships and parenting through publications and events.

We work around the following lines of research:

• Family and parenting support
• Diversity
• Family policy in Flanders
• Vulnerable families
• Refugee families
• Partner relations and divorce
• Meaning and ethics
• Lifelong learning

We work in a diversity-sensitive and actively pluralistic way. We strive for a multidisciplinary approach to families,

• often in close cooperation with the Family Science and Psychosocial Gerontology programmes;
• in an atmosphere of openness and consultation with partners in the field and in civil society, with the aim of strengthening each other.

Our main stakeholders are:

• Social professionals who work with families on a daily basis and whom we want to support in this process;
• organisations from the field of work and civil society that stand up for the interests of families and that we want to strengthen in this respect;
• various authorities that develop policies for families and that we want to advise in this respect.

In accordance with our objectives, our team of researchers and staff members is multidisciplinary and diverse. Most staff members also have a teaching or supporting role in one of the Odisee programmes.

Our website comprehensively presents our numerous projects, publications and events.