JOnG! is the name of the research program ‘Youth an Family’ of the support center Welfare, Public Health and Family. The support center was founded in order to provide the Flemish minister of  Welfare, Public Health and Family with the scientific research needed for the implementation of efficient, innovative and integral policies regarding problems surrounding welfare, public health and family. 

JOnG! is the first project of such a large scale in Flanders and Brussels, to study the health, development, behavior and upbringing of babies, children and adolescents. More than 10.000 children will be followed for a period of three years. This in order to form a picture of our youngest generation.

We aim to:

• study the development of children and adolescents in as broad a range as possible
• systematically follow the combined influence of medical, psychological and didactic aspects on development
• clarify developmental tracts – and the differences therein- of children and adolescents
• map out care and social assistance pathways.

Why? To form answers to numerous policy-related and scientifically interesting questions, including:

• How do children and families evolve?
• Do children and families find the help they need?
• What is the impact of the help received on children and families?
• Which factors could possibly protect vulnerable children and/or families? Which factors form a possible risk for the development of a child and/or family?