The Greek Carers Network EPIONI is a national non-profit organization established in 2016 by a group of citizens who are caregivers or former caregivers. It is governed by its Board of Directors, supported by a Scientific Committee and an Audit Committee. The aim of the organisation is to support individuals who work as informal, unpaid carers of family members or friends who are struggling with physical or mental illness, disability or addiction. Their services include providing information about health issues and sharing of good practices, providing carers with practical advice and emotional support, as well as facilitating the development of problem-solving skills. They also strive to help service users identify and utilize available resources from their local communities. In order to further promote and materialize the vision for carers in Greece, EPIONI is also actively involved in promoting key policy changes through government legislation. With a firm commitment to improving the quality of their services, they strive as an organization to utilize the feedback we receive from our service users and clients. More specifically, quality monitoring and evaluation extends on 3 levels: the quality of our organized national meetings; the quality of collaboration (including overall project quality as perceived by the project partners); the quality of outputs which are subject to a review process and end-users evaluation.
EPIONI is a member of several European and national networks which can support dissemination and exploitation of project results. Among these Eurocarers, the European Network of Carers Organizations, Mental Health Europe and EASPD the European Association of Service Providers. EPIONI is also registered in the Hellenic Register of Voluntary Non-Governmental Organizations (09121ΣΥΕ11096Ο68Ν 1438) and the European Transparency register (049767927777-58). EPIONI partners regularly with www.psychologynow.gr, www.iatronet.gr and www.socialpolicy.gr who act as media sponsors. EPIONI has a specific expertise in the topic of support to family caregivers having been involved in the project aiming to support adult informal carers of people with autism through education, advocacy and counselling.