The Formentera Office of Social Welfare [Conselleria de Benestar Social, CBSF] is offering special training for technical staff of the office who are involved in foster care for at-risk minors. The two-day training was given by technicians of the Consell de Mallorca with more than twenty years of foster care experience.

To date, three local families have signed up to take part in the foster care service, which the Consell de Formentera brought on line last year. They will soon participate in training sessions and Consell personnel will assess their attitudes; staff will also accompany families through the first days of foster care. Islanders who are interested in participating in this service can call the CBSF at 971 321 271 or email benestarsocial@conselldeformentera.cat.

19 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Social Welfare is pleased to report that applications are now being accepted from associations and private non-profit entities on the island seeking to develop social service programmes and initiatives in 2022. The Consell will allocate a total of €45,000 to these grants and applicant groups may receive aid covering as much as 75% of project costs (up to €15,000). The terms of these grants were posted to the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) on 7 May.

So-called casas regionales (centres designed to serve individuals who have migrated from elsewhere in Spain), immigrant associations and other non-profit groups involved in activities related to immigration or otherwise aimed at immigrant communities may also apply for subsidies to develop initiatives that promote the reception and integration of immigrants. The maximum overall budget for this call is €9,000 and the terms of eligibility were posted to the BOIB on 12 May.

Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, said that these two lines of aid would " cover part of the cost of programmes and actions that help improve social and health services on Formentera; as well as assist the efforts of associations and entities that promote the reception and integration of immigrants".

Grant requests may be submitted in person at the OAC or online through the OVAC.

13 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Formentera's Mixed Commission on HIV/AIDS held its inaugural session to discuss the Consell de Formentera's signing of the Paris Declaration on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The commission was chaired by Ana Juan, President of the Consell, and in attendance were Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare; department specialists and representatives of Formentera Hospital and of ALAS Salud y Sexualidades, a civil society group working to prevent HIV and AIDS.

Councillor Ramírez pointed out that "members of the Consell's December 2021 plenary unanimously endorsed Formentera's adhesion to the Paris Declaration, a clear statement of the island's firm stance on public health and social welfare". Ramírez described the goal as "promoting the policies and strategies within our reach to fight against HIV and achieve the objectives to end the epidemic by 2030".

Among those objectives is the achievement by 2030 of the 95-95-95-0 HIV treatment targets. These targets –that 95% of people living with HIV know their viral status, that 95% get appropriate treatment on an ongoing basis and that 95% of those receiving treatment keep their viral load low to stay healthy and reduce the risk of HIV transmission– would help put an end to the global AIDS epidemic by 2030 with zero stigma and discrimination.

Short-term roadmap

Being developed in tandem is the Fast-Track Formentera Plan (FTF Plan), which strives to be a living, open document encompassing actions to tackle HIV and AIDS in the years ahead. Global principles and local actions will be key to attaining these objectives, namely, by taking advantage of programmes and resources already in place on the island and taking steps locally to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV.

On 1 December 2014, World AIDS Day, mayors of 26 cities gathered in Paris to sign a pledge to end the AIDS epidemic in their municipalities. In this declaration, called the Paris Declaration, and led by Paris, mayors and governments of more than 50 world municipalities with high rates of HIV infection pledged to adopt a series of commitments to accelerate the AIDS response.

5 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today about 20 people took part in the first Warning Signs and Keys to Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm, a day-long conference hosted by the Consell de Formentera together with the Balearic Office for Children and Adolescents. Taking place in the Consell auditorium, the conference will feature discussion on the theoretical framework of the Suicide Observatory as well as highlight myths, risk factors, worry signs and preventive steps. Participants will also come away with practical tips on spotting suicidal ideation through questions and ways to intervene.

Rafael Ramírez, Councillor of Social Welfare, opened the event and shared his hopes that participants would find it useful. Nicole Haber, head of the Suicide Observatory, and Maria Dolores Gabaldón, social worker at the Mental Health Office of the Balearic Islands, led the conference.

3 May 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera