Bridge Project - addressing the lack of integration & coordination across service sectors

The Bridge project in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, was born out of a need to address the lack of integration and coordination across different service sectors, particularly in support of families with children who may be facing different social or behavioural challenges. The aim is to ensure that challenges are identified early on, using schools as an entry point, and that children and their families receive adequate support as soon as possible, leading to fewer cases being escalated to child protection services.

The Bridge brings together different professionals (psychologists, speech therapists, social workers, special education teachers, school nurses and guidance counsellors) who work within the education and social sectors, and teachers and other school staff working in pre- and primary schools. Together these form an integrated team aimed at supporting children aged 1 to 16 years and their families.

The process starts within each school. When school staff have exhausted all available measures to support, the Bridge team is called in. Together with the school staff, the team evaluates each case, decides on an intervention and assigns a case manager who is responsible for making sure appropriate services are provided and facilitates open communications with the families.