Founded in 1987, ARAFDES (Training Association for managers in social work organizations in the Rhône Alps region, France), is a professional training institute for managers in the health and social work sector.
ARAFDES’ strategic project integrates the reflection of issues concerning social actions that generate new competences and the development of novel life-long training methods.
Its missions include:

• The perennity of initial and continuing education for managers and future managers of social healthcare organizations.
• A collaboration with professionals and associations to build a trans-disciplinary think tank.

As such, ARAFDES aims to:

• Promote the qualification levels of managers in social work through continuing education and professional training, including individualized professional life-long training,
• Design training programs to fit within a European context,
• Encourage European universities to validate credit transfers for the training programs,
• Provide citizenship training in a complex and changing environment,
• Emphasize the primordial value of the person in all programs.

ARAFDES proposes preparation programs for three training certificates: CAFDES, CAFERUIS and RESEG.