S.T.E.P. - Single-parent Training and Empowerment Program

<< Background >>The idea for this project arose from the desire to respond to the specific needs of single parents—a growing and increasingly vulnerable group in today’s society. In both Romania and Portugal, these parents face emotional, social, and economic challenges such as a lack of emotional support, parental stress, limited access to educational resources, and the risk of social isolation. At the same time, we wanted to develop more effective tools within our organizations for working with this target group and to gain experience in European-level collaboration. Through the S.T.E.P. project, we set out to develop an educational program tailored to these needs, to train specialists to intervene effectively, and to strengthen cooperation between organizations from two different cultural contexts.<< Objectives >>Through the implementation of the S.T.E.P. project, we aimed to achieve three main objectives: to develop a socio-emotional education program tailored to the specific needs of single parents, to support 40 parents from Romania and Portugal in strengthening their socio-emotional skills, and to enhance the abilities of 8 facilitators from the two partner organizations to use experiential, inclusive methods in working with single parents. Our broader goal was to address emotional, relational, and communication challenges faced by single parents—such as isolation, stress, and lack of support—by equipping them with practical tools and knowledge. The program was designed to be flexible and accessible, delivered in a blended format through 12 online theoretical modules and 12 face-to-face workshops. We also aimed to produce high-quality, easy-to-use educational resources, available in three languages, that would remain free and accessible online. Ultimately, we sought to improve participants' well-being and increase the capacity of both organizations to support vulnerable families in their communities.<< Implementation >>We implemented four main types of activities. In the first phase, we organized two transnational meetings in Portugal and Romania, focused on team training, the exchange of good practices, and the development of the educational program. Then we created the theoretical course—12 modules covering self-awareness, emotions, communication, and healthy relationships—and Subsequently we built and launched the online platform www.step-plus.com to host the content and provide participants with free, flexible access. Based on the course, we developed and implemented 12 practical sessions, delivered as face-to-face workshops with the participation of 45 single parents from both countries. In parallel, we conducted continuous dissemination activities, including press releases, social media posts, and, at the end of the project, two online conferences for professionals—one in each country. Throughout the project, as part of project management, we held monthly team meetings and used collaborative tools to closely monitor progress, ensuring schedule adherence, quality delivery, and effective coordination between partners.<< Results >>The S.T.E.P. project generated the following results: -A blended socio-emotional education program for single parents was developed, including one online theoretical module (12 units) and 12 non-formal workshops, in Romanian, English, and Portuguese. -A guide designed for professionals, with 70 activities for working with single parents or other categories of adult beneficiaries, inspired by the theoretical modules and practical sessions.-A research study on program effectiveness was conducted-A dedicated platform of the program (www.step-plus.com) which hosts the program and the other projects results-In total, 45 parents (26 RO, 19 PT) participated; 90% completed the course and showed a 30% improvement in self-regulation and emotional skills. -Eight trainers developed competencies in innovative adult education methods; all reported improved digital skills and motivation to stay involved in similar initiatives. -Two transnational meetings were organized. -Promotion included a visual identity, two press releases, 40+ social media posts, and two online dissemination events. The project met all planned indicators, expanded services, strengthened cooperation, and enhanced trainer professionalism and inclusion.