D0074 - LABORATORIO SUL RUOLO DEL SERVIZIO SOCIALE NELLA GESTIONE DELLE EMERGENZE: LA RETE DEI SERVIZI SUL TERRITORIO

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students: - know the role of services in emergency management: the legislative framework, the professional role of social worker and the role of service networks - the theoretical-methodological key-points of social intervention in these areas, - how local systems individuate and tackle the emerging needs.

Course contents

The Lab is developed and delivered in collaboration with ASP Città di Bologna.

The organization and management of emergency social interventions within the local welfare system are considered, with particular attention to the following topics:

• conceptualizing social emergencies and urgent social interventions;

• theoretical and methodological perspectives on emergency social work;

• the organization and governance of local social service systems;

• inter-agency collaboration and the respective roles and responsibilities of welfare services.

The course consists of seven seminars (six of 2 hours and a final 3-hour workshop), according to the following schedule.

 

Seminar 1 (18 September 2026)

Introduction to the Lab

Social Emergencies and Urgent Social Interventions within the Local Welfare System: Definitions, Models and Governance

Topics

• Defining social emergencies and urgent social interventions.

• National and regional legislative and policy frameworks.

• The integrated social service system in the City of Bologna and the Bologna Metropolitan Area, with particular attention to coordination with emergency response agencies and services.

Speakers

• Gabriele Manella (University of Bologna)

• Annalisa Faccini (ASP Città di Bologna)

• Chiara Polloni, Gabriele Di Pietra and Ylenia Nacca (ASP Città di Bologna / Seriana 2000 Cooperative)

 

Seminar 2 (9 October 2026)

The Emergency Social Intervention Service (PRIS): The Bologna Metropolitan Model in Comparative PerspectiveTopics

• The Emergency Social Intervention Service (Pronto Intervento Sociale – PRIS) as an Essential Level of Social Services (LEPS).

• The role of social workers in emergency situations: emergency case management, on-call social work services, inter-agency coordination, and complex cases.

• Organizational models and integrated service delivery.

• Comparing PRIS experiences across Italy.

Speakers

• Chiara Polloni, Gabriele Di Pietra and Ylenia Nacca (ASP Città di Bologna / Seriana 2000 Cooperative)

• Representatives of other Emergency Social Intervention Services (PRIS)

 

Seminar 3 (16 October 2026)

Collective Emergencies and Disaster Response: Institutional Coordination in Emergency ManagementTopics

• The role of social work in disaster response and inter-agency coordination.

• Disaster management in the City of Bologna, with particular attention to collaboration among social services, the Local Police, and the Civil Protection Agency.

Speakers

• Annalisa Faccini (ASP Città di Bologna)

• Representatives of the Bologna Local Police

 

Seminar 4 (23 October 2026)

Focus I: Housing Emergencies and Severe Social Exclusion in the City of BolognaTopics

• Homelessness, emergency night shelters, and the Climate Emergency Plan.

• Housing emergencies and eviction prevention.

• The integrated network of local social services.

Speakers

• Annamaria Nicolini and/or Marina Padula (ASP Città di Bologna – GEA)

• Silvia Campagnaro (ASP Città di Bologna – SA)

• Marco Tocco and Diletta Deodari (Municipality of Bologna – Welfare Department)

• Representatives of Arcolaio Cooperative (Outreach Services – Area 1)

 

Seminar 5 (6 November 2026)

Focus II: Gender-Based Violence in Emergency Contexts: Protection and Safeguarding of Women and ChildrenTopics

• Understanding gender-based violence.

• The metropolitan anti-violence network, with particular emphasis on emergency interventions.

• Integrated responses to women experiencing violence.

• Child protection in cases involving exposure to domestic violence.

Speakers

• Consuelo Bianchelli (ASP Città di Bologna)

• Representatives of MondoDonna and Casa delle Donne per non subire violenza

• Mariarosaria Nuzzo (Municipality of Bologna – Child Protection Department) (TBC)

 

Seminar 6 (13 November 2026)

Focus III: Protection Networks for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors in the Bologna Metropolitan AreaTopics

• Migration flows and multiple vulnerabilities.

• Reception pathways and support services for unaccompanied foreign minors within the Bologna Metropolitan Area.

Speakers

• Annaviola Toller and Chiara Pozzi (ASP Città di Bologna)

• Representative of the Reception and Integration System (SAI)

• Representative of the Prefecture (TBC)

 

Final Workshop 7 (20 November 2026), 13:00–16:00

Simulating the Management of a Complex Social Emergency

• Roundtable discussion with professionals from the Emergency Social Intervention Service (PRIS) of the Bologna Metropolitan Area.

• Practical Workshop: Working in interdisciplinary groups, students will analyse a real case, from the initial request for assistance to the development of an emergency intervention plan. Each group will be required to: identify priority needs; activate the appropriate network of services; develop an emergency case management plan, including the transition from emergency intervention to long-term territorial service provision; identify critical issues and discuss the professional responsibilities of social workers in delivering coordinated and effective interventions.

The course will conclude with a plenary discussion involving the participating practitioners.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory reading:

A. Mirri, Il servizio di pronto intervento sociale. Manuale di istruzioni per l’attivazione del servizio, Maggioli, Santarcangelo di Romagna, 2025.

Recommended reading:

A. Mirri, A. Campanini, Il servizio sociale d'urgenza. Gli interventi nelle emergenze personali e familiari, Carocci, Roma, 2022.

Further material from the seminars will be available on the Virtuale platform.

Teaching methods

Seminars, work groups at class.

Assessment methods

Credits will be assigned once the following conditions are met:

1. Attendance to seminar meetings (at least 6 on 8).

2. Final exam. The exam will consist on a paper to be submitted by e-mail to the teacher at least 10 days before the exam date. The topic will be chosen by the student but communicated and discussed with the teacher. The paper's length is between 10,000 and 15,000 characters including spaces and bibliography/sitography. The paper must include also: a brief introduction (aims, structure of the paper, and the specific link with the laboratory topics), a brief conclusion (two-three core aspects that emerged about the paper aim, and aspects that could be explored in the future), and the references (to be reported at the end and mentioned in the text).

Regarding the use of AI for the paper, the following operations are permitted: synthesis, reformulations, brainstorming, linguistic clarifications, and syntactic suggestions. However, the use of AI to produce original analysis, interpretations, or extended sections of the paper is not permitted. A correct and declared use of AI does not constitute a reward in itself, but is evaluated on the base of the quality of the student's personal contribution. Students must declare whether they used AI to produce their paper, specifying, if so, which tools they used and for which activities.

Es regards the exam dates, the schedule will be: three sessions between 7.01.2027 and 12.02.2027, two sessions between 31.05.2027 and 30.07.2026, one session between 23.08.2027 and 10.09.2027.

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the teacher, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Manella