CAF-SIG
‘Children, Adolescents and Families’ Special Interest Group
Origin and Purpose
The special interest group ‘Children, Adolescents and Families’ (CAF-SIG) was founded at the end of 2024 as part of the European Association for Mental Health and Intellectual Disability (EAMHID). This group focuses on identifying, through research, the needs of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their families, and to support clinicians in addressing these needs. CAF-SIG contributes to this by disseminating scientific knowledge and best practices across Europe. In the future, the group aims to collaborate internationally on new (research) projects.
Aims
CAF-SIG aims to:
- Raise awareness of the needs of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their families across Europe.
- Identify issues affecting children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their families.
- Support clinicians in their work through dissemination of best practice and academic work.
- Contribute to policy, practice and research on children and adolescents with disabilities and their families.
Current activities
- Each year, CAF-SIG holds three online, or two online and one on-site meeting with their members. Within these meetings needs are identified and scientific knowledge and best practices are shared.
- CAF-SIG raises the profile of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their families at EAMHID Congresses by contributing to the scientific program. The next Congress is being held in Greece in 2027.
- CAF-SIG is collaborating internationally on a study focussing on care co-ordination in services across Europe for families of children with intellectual disabilities. This study is being led by prof. dr. Vaso Totsika and dr. Agnes Willemen.
- CAF-SIG has organised the first on-site meeting, taking place in October 2026 at Bartimeus in Doorn, Netherlands.
Future activities
- CAF-SIG will share scientific knowledge and best practices through engagement in webinars, seminars and workshops.
- CAF-SIG will promote international collaboration in research in families and children and adolescents with disabilities (e.g. collaborating in scientific work such as data collection and publications).
Members
Researchers, professionals, experienced experts and family carers across Europe are welcome to become a member of CAF-SIG. Currently our group counts around 50 members from 12 countries. We are welcoming new members to join our group!
CAF- SIG Board Members
- Chair: prof. dr. Paula Sterkenburg, Netherlands
- Vice-chair: prof. dr. Vaso Totsika, United Kingdom
- Secretary: Annemieke de Kat – Hooydonk, Netherlands (maternity cover for dr. Linda Veerman, Netherlands)
- Communication officer: Emma Taylor, United Kingdom
- Treasurer: dr. Bert Bonroy, Belgium
- Supportive board member: dr. Agnes Willemen, Netherlands
Contact
Do you have questions or requests for CAF-SIG? Or do you want to become a member? Send an email to caf-sig@eamhid.eu
CAF-SIG Board Members
CAF Meeting 2025 – EAMHID 15th Congress in Ghent, Belgium
CAF Group Photo 2025
Picture Gallery
