The Chair of the Valencian Public System of Social Services is organizing the International Congress on Social Services: Essential Services for next October. This event seeks to reflect and debate on the strategic role of Social Services in an increasingly vulnerable and interdependent global context, marked by crises, climate emergencies, geopolitical conflicts, forced displacement, and deep social inequalities. Social Services have proven to be much more than a support network: they have established themselves as the fourth essential pillar of the Welfare State, alongside healthcare, education, and pensions.
Under the theme "Essential Social Services in the Context of Social Emergencies," the conference will address four major thematic areas:
• Emergencies in Social Services
• Social Services – Primary Care
• Social Services – Secondary Care
• Training and Research in Social Services
During emergency situations, Social Services not only intervene quickly to protect all citizens, but also act as a system of social support, emotional support, and community recovery. They are the public infrastructure that sustains daily life when everything else is shaken. This conference was created with the aim of recognizing, highlighting, and strengthening this strategic role. We aim to create a space for meeting, learning, and shared construction, where professionals, users, researchers, public officials, and third-sector entities can rethink Social Services as a key tool for anticipating, caring for, and rebuilding society in the face of current and future emergencies.
When: October 15, 16, and 17, 2025
Where: Alaquàs Castle, Valencia
Abstract submission: June 30, 2025.
Once accepted, full chapters may be submitted until July 30, 2025, and will be published in open access by a prestigious publisher.
