# /0 Introduction

This is a protocol for mediation and connection between different forms of care organising. It is about negotiations between families. Circles of friends. Flat-sharing communities. And other close relationship formations. With or without different degrees of care organising.

The protocol for Care Connections can provide guidance. For regular, structured exchange. It takes into account practical and emotional aspects of care relationships. And promotes the emancipatory networking of different care structures. The exchange has four central elements:

1. Outlining care relationships.
2. Outlining needs.
3. Aligning expectations.
4. Defining next steps.

# /1 Foundations

For a meeting for connection between different care contexts to succeed, it is important to know how we are here today. A structured check-in has proven useful. In addition, persons leading the Connections meeting briefly explain the protocol. And the underlying concepts (especially care & emancipatory care politics). And basic political premises (more just organisation of society through rationalisation, conscious alienation and grassroots-democratic restructuring of care).

## // Check-in

- Each person briefly shares their current energy level and emotional state.
- Jointly decide how much of the protocol to use today. What do we hope to gain?

## // Outlining Care Relationships

Exchange about current care practices and experiences:

- Where do I do care work in everyday life?
- With whom do I talk about my care work in everyday life?
- How do I organise my everyday care work?
- Have I experienced exceptional care situations?

# /2 Creating Connections

This section describes how a Connections meeting can proceed. And in which areas we particularly want to create connections.

## // Clarifying Needs

**What is currently needed?** For example: practical support (household, care, logistics). Emotional support. Social connection. Retreat spaces and autonomy. Structure and reliability. Other.

**What can currently be provided?** What are the time resources. Practical skills and possibilities. Emotional capacities. What access to external resources and networks exists.

**What gaps exist between needs and capacities?** What are artificial scarcities? Scarcities that can be remedied through better organising.

## // Aligning Expectations

This involves explaining your languages of care and organisational forms to each other. Looking at and discussing different approaches.

Identify possible areas for compromise. For example:

- Where is more structure / more flexibility needed?
- How formal / how informal do we proceed?
- Where do we need to de-escalate? Where can we make more demands?

## // Defining Concrete Next Steps

Make concrete agreements for further care practice.

- Create new concrete care organisations. Or place them in existing organisational forms.
- Assign concrete care tasks and responsibilities.
- Discuss communication channels and frequencies.
- Think about mechanisms for spontaneous reporting of needs.
- Set times to review the new practices.

# /3 For Implementation

In addition to the concrete process, it is important to consider some things in parallel. Also, it can seem difficult at first to establish care connections at all.

## // Before the First Meeting

- **Start small:** Start with one-on-one conversations before involving larger groups.
- **Respect different paces:** Some people need more time to engage with new forms.
- **Create documented and undocumented spaces:** Enable both formal and informal exchange moments.
- **Translate continuously:** Develop a shared language that respects different care approaches.

## // Reflection and Evaluation

It is important to repeatedly reflect on your practice. Especially in the further course. It can be useful to simply try out different practices over certain periods. This enables further development of the practice. And allows further development and flexibility given the structure.

- **Evaluate regularly:** Adapt the format to changing needs and experiences.
- **Document your results.** Remember general security standards.