SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving

What SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving does

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving is a Flemish non-profit support center (vzw) headquartered in Borgerhout, Belgium, established in 2018 as the successor to Samenlevingsopbouw Vlaanderen vzw. It operates as a backbone support organization for social-sector professionals working inside the publicly funded Flemish welfare and care system, providing training, legal assistance, a curated knowledge bank, and tailored advisory engagements. Its primary users are social workers and case managers at OCMWs (Public Centers for Social Welfare), CAWs (Centers for Algemeen Welzijnswerk), EISBs, VAPH facilities, GBO networks, and Casemanagers Zorg, with the Flemish Government acting as the dominant institutional stakeholder.

SAM's product portfolio includes a knowledge bank spanning 16 social-work themes, structured publications, legal-support services, custom 'Op maat' advisory work, and a calendar of paid training activities. Notable offerings are the Basisopleiding Schuldbemiddeling (a debt-mediation basic training) and the OmgaanmetVBM.be digital platform, which was developed under commission from Departement Zorg to support professionals implementing the Werk-Zorgdecreet and VBM (Vraaggestuurde Maatschappelijke Begeleiding) framework. SAM has co-developed initiatives such as Baskuul and Sterk Werk with SAAMO, partnered with HIVA-KULeuven on an informal-care measurement framework, and collaborates with Platform GPMI, CAW Antwerpen, Agentschap Opgroeien, VAPH, Psyche, and Icoba.

The business model is hybrid: the majority of operating revenue derives from multi-year institutional subsidies from the Flemish Government, supplemented by fee-based training income priced at approximately EUR 15 for short sessions and up to EUR 240 for multi-day programs. Distribution is community-led, anchored in formal communities of practice for GBO coordinators, care case managers, and VBM professionals, as well as podcast channels and publications. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a published multi-year strategic plan covering 2025-2030; no external fundraising, acquisition, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving

Legal name

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving vzw

Website

https://samvzw.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving is a Flemish non-profit support center providing training, legal assistance, knowledge tools, and tailored advisory services to social-sector professionals working within publicly funded welfare and care organizations in Flanders, Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Borgerhout

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government institutional funding: SAM receives institutional funding from the Flemish Government (Vlaamse Overheid) to support its mission of strengthening social professionals and advising policy makers. The organization also develops paid educational programs and training courses as part of its revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving is an independent Flemish non-profit support center that strengthens and connects social professionals working with people in socially vulnerable situations. It delivers training programs, knowledge publications, tools, legal support, and tailored consultancy services to social-work professionals and organizations, while advising Flemish policy makers on social policy reform. Its offerings are organized across 16 thematic specializations including poverty, debt mediation, professional ethics, accessibility, freedom-restricting measures, community building, and street work.

Product overview

SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for social professionals working with vulnerable populations in Belgium. The core offerings include a publications and tools library (Publicaties en tools), training activities (Activiteiten), a knowledge bank (Kennisbank), and custom services (Op maat). Key training programs include the Basisopleiding Schuldbemiddeling for debt mediation certification. Digital platforms like OmgaanmetVBM.be provide guidelines for handling restrictive measures in care. The organization also publishes practical guides such as 'Druk op de eerste lijn,' 'Koffie & formulieren,' and 'De STEK' to support social work practices. Legal support (Juridische ondersteuning) complements the educational offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publicaties en tools (Publications and tools) A collection of publications, guides, brochures, and digital tools supporting social professionals in their work with vulnerable populations on topics such as accessibility, poverty, debt mediation, and social-work practices.
• Activiteiten (Training activities) Educational activities including courses, workshops, and training sessions for social professionals on topics such as emotional development, street work, and social intervention.
• Op maat (Custom services) Tailored support services developed to meet specific needs of organizations or professionals in the social-work field.
• Juridische ondersteuning (Legal support) Legal support services for social professionals dealing with complex legal issues related to social work and vulnerable populations.
• Kennisbank (Knowledge bank) An online knowledge repository containing articles, analyses, and practical knowledge for social professionals.
• Basisopleiding Schuldbemiddeling (Basic training in debt mediation) A comprehensive training program for professionals seeking certification as recognized debt mediators, covering the legal and practical aspects of debt mediation services.
• OmgaanmetVBM.be A website platform providing guidelines, materials, and training resources for handling restrictive measures in care settings, focused on residential youth care and mental-health services.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HIVA KULeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014HIVA KULeuven (Research Institute for Work and Society, KU Leuven) collaborated with what was then Samenlevingsopbouw Vlaanderen vzw (now SAM) to develop the framework for proactive local action ('Lokaal proactief kader') in the fight against under-protection.
• PsychecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsyche is a project partner in the 'Omgaan met VBM' (Dealing with Freedom-Restricting Measures) project, which aims to support residential youth care and mental health services in implementing guidelines for the prevention and safe application of seclusion and restraint. The project runs until June 2026 and is commissioned by the Departement Zorg.
• IcobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcoba is a project partner in the 'Omgaan met VBM' initiative alongside SAM and Psyche, working to support organizations in the residential youth care and mental health sectors to implement VBM guidelines and reduce the use of seclusion and restraint.
• Vlaamse Overheid / Departement ZorgcoreOthersThe Flemish Government, through Departement Zorg, commissions and funds SAM's work on care case manager support (Werk-Zorgdecreet) and the VBM project. SAM provides policy advice to the Flemish GBO steering group and the Werk-Zorgdecreet policy process.
• Platform GPMIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAM supports the Platform GPMI, which unites poverty organizations and social professional organizations across the language border in Belgium, with the goal of abolishing GPMI (Geïndividualiseerd Project voor Maatschappelijk Integratie) and proposing reforms to make OCMW a motor for poverty reduction.
• SAAMOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAM supports SAAMO in projects such as Baskuul that address the trend of conditionality of rights. SAM also supports the 'Sterk Werk' (Strong Work) sector project of SAAMO. SAM and SAAMO co-developed publications including 'De STEK' and 'Koffie & formulieren'.
• CAW AntwerpenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAW Antwerpen collaborated with SAAMO Antwerpen and SAM to develop the 'Koffie & formulieren' model — a community initiative combining social encounter with practical administrative support for people in vulnerable situations.
• Agentschap OpgroeienminorOthersAgentschap Opgroeien (Flemish Agency for Child and Family) is involved in the VBM project alongside SAM, Psyche, and Icoba, specifically in the context of residential youth care support.
• VAPH (Vlaams Agentschap voor Personen met een Handicap)minorOthersVAPH participates in the 'Omgaan met VBM' project alongside SAM, Psyche, and Icoba, focusing on facilities for persons with disabilities. SAM also supports the Vlaams Platform VBM as a community of practice for VAPH facilities, mental health, rehabilitation centers, and education.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Movisie: Dutch knowledge institute for social development that provides research, training, and advisory services for social professionals in the Netherlands. Parallel to SAM's role in Flanders, but operates in the Dutch rather than Belgian social welfare system.
• Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland: Dutch organization defending the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Both SAM and Vluchtelingenwerk operate in the social welfare support space for vulnerable populations, though in different countries (Netherlands vs Belgium).

Direct peers

• SAAMO (Samen tegen Armoede in Vlaanderen): Belgian Flemish anti-poverty network organization that advocates for people in poverty. SAM supports SAAMO in projects like 'Baskuul' and 'Sterk Werk', making them direct peers addressing poverty and social inclusion in Flanders through community organizing and policy advocacy.
• CAW (Centra voor Algemeen Welzijnswerk): Flemish centers for general welfare work providing direct social services to vulnerable populations including general welfare, relational and emotional issues, and homelessness. SAM collaborates with CAW on integrated community outreach and shares the same ecosystem of Flemish social service delivery.
• HIVA KULeuven: Research institute for Work and Society at KU Leuven that collaborated with SAM on the 'Iedereen beschermd' framework for proactive local action against underprotection. Both organizations work on social policy research and advisory for vulnerable populations in Flanders.
• Welzijnszorg: Belgian NGO focused on combating poverty and social exclusion through action-oriented campaigns and policy advocacy. Both organizations work on poverty reduction and social welfare in Flanders, often partnering on awareness campaigns and policy reform initiatives.
• Caritas Vlaanderen: Flemish branch of Caritas providing social services and humanitarian aid including support for vulnerable people, refugees, and people in poverty. Both organizations operate in the Flemish social welfare sector with overlapping service areas around vulnerable populations.
• OCMW (Openbaar Centrum voor Maatschappelijk Welzijn): Belgian Public Social Welfare Centers providing social assistance, debt mediation, and welfare services. SAM both supports and serves OCMWs as primary customers, sharing the Flemish social welfare ecosystem but with OCMW being a public service delivery entity.
• 11.11.11: Belgian coalition of NGOs working on development cooperation and social justice. Both 11.11.11 and SAM operate in the Belgian social welfare space, coordinating on social advocacy campaigns and policy work in Flanders and Brussels.

Emerging players

• Uit De Marge: Flemish organization working with disadvantaged youth, providing outreach and support services. Shares SAM's approach to socially vulnerable populations and community-based interventions, though with a narrower focus on youth welfare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sam-steunpunt-mens-en-samenleving

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAM, steunpunt Mens en Samenleving