« EU Development of Integrated Social Services for Exposed Families and Children (2005-2007)

 

Project Objective:

 

The overall objective is to resolve a complex issue closely linked to the social and economic problems of Ukraine's transition period - that is the challenge of reducing the number of children living in residential institutions using Kyiv oblast as a pilot oblast.

 

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The overall objective of the project will be achieved through a number of different objectives and activities:

• to develop and implement innovative models of integrated social services for vulnerable children and families in Kyiv oblast;
  
  
• in collaboration with the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sport and Social Services for Family, Children and Youth to develop and improve necessary legislation and regulations to support the new models of social services and to improve existing family and child protection legislation in accordance with European standards;
  
  
• to develop and adapt specialised training programmes to increase the capacity of the staff of the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sport and State Social Services for Family, Children and Youth so that they are able to provide and continue to develop the new services.

Project Beneficiary - State Social Services for Family, Children and Youth.

 

Pilot Region

 

Kyiv oblast has been selected as the pilot region where it is believed that many of the prerequisites for a successful reform of the childcare system already exist. Liability to work out and implement transition model from institutional form to family-type form of state childcare through development of integrated social services has already been confirmed by the following factors:

•  key personnel at oblast level understand and support the need for change;
  support and collaboration in a number of successful social sector projects with a range of local and international NGOs (including EveryChild); willingness of institutions of local governing and rayon state administrations to disseminate new experience;
  
  
• an active interagency structure especially set up to support change in childcare structures - the Kyiv Oblast Coordination Council for Child Protection. The role of the Council is to develop policy and to coordinate state and NGO activity in developing and implementing a childcare reform programme. As a result of working together closely for over two years the members of Coordination Council have a clear understanding of how to achieve these changes. The Council has benefited from European experience and understands how to use technical assistance;
  
  
• the Kyiv oblast authorities are based in the capital which means they have access to Central Government more easily and can get support for change more easily than other oblasts;
  
  
• although it is close to the capital, the socio-economic situation in Kyiv oblast is typical of the majority of oblasts in Ukraine and therefore it will be a good testing ground to develop a model which can be used successfully in other oblasts;
  
  
• family type forms of alternative care already exist in Kyiv oblast such as family type homes and foster families;
  
  
• Kyiv authorities have set up a number of smaller Mixed type home institutions which provide residential care to groups of 30-50 children. Although this type of care is not ideal they are a significant improvement on large institutions because children are kept in sibling groups and study at schools in the local community;
  
  
•  there is significant interest from local and international organisations in implementing projects in Kyiv oblast.

Project Implementer 

 

Project implementer from European Commission is a winner of open tender - a consortium of organisations led by EveryChild - an international development charity. The EveryChild Consortium consists of three organisations each with proven experience in the delivery of large-scale social sector reform projects:

• EveryChild, an international NGO with its headquarters in London, the United Kingdom;
  
  
• Galway Development Services International, a consulting company with its origins in the Centre of Development Studies in the National University of Ireland, Galway;
  
  
• National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health STAKES International Development Collaboration, a public national agency located in Finland

 

Value:  1 600 000 Euro.

 

This Project is financed by the European Union

This Project is implemented by the EveryChild Consortium