The article presents an action-research experience aimed at the evaluation and planning early childhood policies and at improving the quality of the services of school-meal in the municipality of Melzo (Milan). Thanks to the public social audit, action-research was introduced as a way to develop the dialogue among the stakeholders. Two work-groups were settled, involving managers, politicians and researchers. Interviews and surveys were used to gather information, and through an intermediate report, different groups of citizens were consulted. In the final section the use of action-research with political purposes and the role of the researchers are discussed.

Massimo Del Signore, Valentina Francapi, Graziano Maino, Lorena Trabattoni, An action-research experience to redesign the policies for the early childhood and the schoolmeal services at the municipality of Melzo (Milan) in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 3-4/2009, pp. 183-196, DOI:10.3280/RIP2009-003011