The Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth is calling for applications:
Creation of a socio-therapeutic center (CST) in Hesperange (Itzigerstee)
As part of the government's policy to support and supervise children and teenagers, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth is launching a call for applications for the creation of a socio-therapeutic center (CST) in Hesperange. This document presents the objectives of this call for applications, as well as the conditions of participation for managers working in the child and family support sector.
Despite the introduction of various local and regional aids in the school environment, the need for CST places remains high. Faced with this situation, the MENJE is actively seeking solutions to meet this demand. In collaboration with the commune of Luxembourg, the "Itzigerstee" site will be converted to accommodate a CST. The site also houses the workshops of the Centre d'Animation Pédagogique et de Loisirs (CAPEL). A number of shared premises will be used during the Christmas, Easter and summer school vacations by CAPEL. Provisional site plans are attached to this call for applications.
CSTs offer alternative schooling tailored to the specific needs of young people in educational distress. Students with special socio-emotional needs receive both academic and socio-educational support, with the main aim of reintegrating them into school. The individualized approach is designed to reinforce both social and emotional skills, while offering school follow-up and support adapted to their situation.
1. Mission and objectives
The actions developed comply with the following criteria:
- Reception and supervision of children :
Welcome and supervise children requiring educational and psychosocial support during the day. Provide a safe, stable and protective environment, conducive to their well-being and sense of security. - Duration and personalization of care :
Offer medium- or long-term care, adapted to the needs of each child, as part of his or her plan to return to school.
Develop an individualized pedagogical and educational project for each child, in collaboration with the main players involved with the child (parents, school, specialized AEF services and others). - A secure living environment that respects rights :
Implementing concepts and methodologies that guarantee a stable and safe living environment, while respecting the rights of all.
Fostering an environment conducive to the personal development of our young people. - Educational supervision, psychosocial support and socio-emotional development:
Offer care adapted to children's socio-emotional needs, using individualized educational and psychosocial methods.
Promote the development of socio-emotional skills and autonomy in young people, by helping them to understand and manage their emotions. - Family inclusion and support :
Actively involve the family in the development, implementation and evaluation of the child's individualized educational and pedagogical project, to ensure comprehensive and coherent support.
Work in partnership with the family to ensure continuity of educational and therapeutic actions at home, and help parents maintain an environment favorable to their child's development.
Promote close collaboration with parents or legal guardians to strengthen the family bond, by working on family dynamics and providing support not only for the child, but also for the parents.
If necessary, refer families to support programs to strengthen their parenting skills and help them better understand and support their child's needs. - School reintegration :
Help children reintegrate into their original school, taking into account their specific educational needs, and offering them personalized support. - Networking :
Collaborate with existing services and structures (ONE, CDSE, AEF, schools, etc.) to ensure coherent care for the child. Create synergies with the various players to ensure continuity of support. - Staff training and supervision :
Ensure ongoing training and regular supervision of socio-educational staff, to equip them with the skills needed to meet the specific challenges of working with children and young people. - Quality approach and compliance with national frameworks :
Implement a quality process.
Ensure that interventions meet the standards of the National Child and Family Services Framework.
2. Organization eligible for the call for projects
The project leader must meet the conditions for approval by the Ministry of National Education for Children and Youth, in accordance with the amended law of September 8, 1998 governing relations between the State and organizations working in the social, family and therapeutic fields.
3. Calendar
| STEPS | DATES |
| Call for projects launched | 03/07/2025 |
| Call for projects closed | 01/09/2025 |
| Project evaluation and selection | September 2025 |
| Informing applicants of project (non)selection | Early June 2024 |
| Launch of detailed project planning | In progress |
| Inauguration of the CST | 2028/2029 |
4. Legal framework and financing
The project and its operation fall, among others, under the scope of the following laws, grand-ducal regulations and conventions:
- Amended law of September 8, 1998 regulating relations between the State and organizations working in the social, family and therapeutic fields;
- Amended law of December 16, 2008 on child and family assistance ;
- Amended Grand-Ducal regulation of August 17, 2011 concerning the approval to be granted to managers of activities for children, young adults and families in distress ;
- Amended Grand-Ducal regulation of August 17, 2011 specifying the financing of child and family welfare measures.
Funding for renovation and construction costs will be guaranteed through the Fund for the Financing of Private Educational and Socio-family Infrastructure.
5. Selection criteria
The following criteria will be taken into account by the jury when assessing projects. An initial selection will be made on the basis of the application file.
- Degree of response to the objectives of the call for applications :
The project must clearly meet the objectives defined in the call for applications, taking into account the specific needs of the target population. It must demonstrate a good understanding of the educational and socio-emotional challenges faced by the young people concerned, as well as an ability to provide appropriate solutions. - Concept adapted to reception and supervision :
The relevance and effectiveness of the proposed concept for the care and supervision of young people with learning difficulties will be assessed. The project must include coherent educational and psychosocial arrangements, and provide comprehensive support designed to promote the well-being, autonomy and socio-emotional development of each child. - Link with existing services and structures in the sector (AEF and schools):
The project will need to work in synergy with existing services and structures in the fields of educational, therapeutic and school support. Close collaboration with these entities is essential to guarantee multidisciplinary support, reinforce the continuity of interventions, and create an effective support network around the child and his family. - Sustainability and continuity of the project :
The jury will pay particular attention to the project's long-term viability, with guaranteed continuity of care for the children. The project should offer medium- or long-term care arrangements, depending on the children's needs, while ensuring stability in the organization and structure of the staff. - Experience in the field of STC and working with children with special needs:
Proven experience in the field of STC or working with children with specific needs in terms of socio-emotional development will be an asset. Projects will need to demonstrate their ability to adapt interventions according to children's profiles, combining educational and psychosocial skills. - Site collaboration and cohesion:
The project will need to ensure good understanding and organization between the two departments present on the site, with implicit cooperation and effective communication to ensure the success of the overall concept. - The role of the family and parental inclusion :
An important aspect of the evaluation will be the inclusion of the family in the educational process. The project will need to demonstrate how it actively includes parents or guardians in the child's support, promoting a stronger family bond and encouraging parental involvement in educational and psychosocial processes. This collaboration is crucial to guarantee continuity between the support received on site and the family environment.
7. Application form
The application must be :
- Prepared using the attached form ;
- Written in one of the country's three official languages;
- Duly completed, in typewritten form ;
- Submitted by 01/09/2025 at the latest by e-mail to the following address:
claudine.lucas@men.lu
If you have any further questions about this call for projects, please contact :
claudine.lucas@men.lu
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