Possono le famiglie in situazione di vulnerabilità contribuire alla formazione degli operatori dei servizi sociali? Sfide e apprendimento dal percorso “Famiglie e operatori insieme”

This paper explores the involvement of families benefiting from the LEPS P.I.P.P.I. Programme in training pathways for social service practitioners. Grounded in a theoretical framework on participation and experiential knowledge, it examines how integrating lived experience with professional expertise can enhance the effectiveness of interventions with families in vulnerable situations. The participatory action-research-training journey “Families and Professionals Together”, promoted by the Istituto degli Innocenti, the Tuscany Region and LabRIEF at the University of Padua, fostered dialogue among families, professionals, and researchers to co-construct new training practices and amplify the voices of families. The analysis shows that parents’ (and children’s) contributions not only enrich professional training but also promote authentic relationships and reciprocal empowerment. Findings highlight the need to rethink training and support frameworks for vulnerable families, integrating their participation as a transformative lever to improve the quality of interventions in social services.