SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving vzw

What is SAM?

SAM, support center for People and Society and for everyone who supports socially vulnerable people

The work of social professionals, their organisations and volunteers is complex. The challenges are considerable: keeping up with new insights and working methods, exchanging with other sectors, keeping an overview of the complex ‘welfare landscape’. And of course: offering citizens the support they deserve.

SAM’s mission is to strengthen these social professionals, their organisations and the policy.

SAM supports, inspires and challenges

We are close to the work field. From our autonomous position, we closely follow day-to-day practice in the various domains and sectors. We look over walls. We investigate and dialogue.

The decree of 17 February 2017 gives us six core tasks:

• building up and safeguarding knowledge and expertise
• organisation of contexts and processes that promote learning
• practice and method development
• service
• policy-oriented actions
• information and awareness

SAM supports. We encourage and support organisations and sectors to strengthen each other, to exchange and collaborate.

SAM inspires. We conduct research, organise training, and bring people together.

SAM challenges. Based on our findings from practice, we advise governments and inform and sensitize the wider society.

What we care about

We dream of a socially just and sustainable society that guarantees fundamental rights for every citizen and strives for a good quality of life. We want to contribute to this with our expertise.

Who we work for

We primarily focus on people who work in:

• the Centers for General Welfare Work
• youth help
• SAMO
• the street work
• debt counseling
• help and support for people with disabilities.

We also build bridges to other social professionals, organisations and volunteers who support socially vulnerable people.