DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION - LUMOS EXPERIENCE IN MOLDOVA Domnica Ginu Manager, LUMOS Foundation Moldova Deinstitutionalization : The Ways Forward 14. – , Prague

General Information Location: South-Eastern Part of the European Continent Capital: Chisinau Border countries: Romania Ukraine Area: sq. km Population: mil Number of children: Density: 125 per sq km Currency: Leu (MDL)‏ Republic of Moldova has proclaimed its Independence on 27th of August 1991.

National policies for the reforms’ implementation 1. National Strategy and Action Plan for Reform of Childcare System (2007); 2. Regulations on the Commission for Protection of Child in Difficulty (2007) ; 3. Programme for development of inclusive education in the Republic of Moldova for (2011, Lumos). 4. Strategy of social inclusion of persons with disabilities (2011); 5. Law on social inclusion of persons with disabilities (2012); 6. Law on accreditation of social services providers (2012, Lumos); 7. Regulations on inter-sector cooperation to prevent infant mortality at home (2010, Lumos); 8. Regulations on the redirection of financial resources from the residential institutions to the newly established services (2012, Lumos); 9. Regulations on the accreditation of social services providers (2012, Lumos).

Reduction by 50%, until 2012, of the number of children who live separated from the family environment Reorganization of all residential institutions on the basis of a general transformation plan The objectives of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Reform of Childcare System

Regulations and Minimum quality standards regarding social services Family support services 1140 Social community assistance Day center for children at risk Day center for children with disabilities Personal assistant Mobile team Respiro Maternal center Substitute services Foster care Family-type home Center for children at risk Center for children with disabilities Small Group Home for persons with disabilities Small Group Home for children at risk

Regulatory framework for inclusive education Unit course Inclusive education (for compulsory application in institutions of higher education and secondary education, which conduct initial training of teachers) Curriculum for in-service training on inclusive education for personnel from pre-university education Project of Regulations for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance Service Project of Regulations for Inclusive Education Resource Center within mainstream school Individualized Educational Plan and Guidebook on plan’s application Methodological Guide regarding curricular adaptations and the assessment of school progress within the context of inclusive education Specific regulations on final examination and certification of children with special educational needs, included in mainstream education

Child social services

The deinstitutionalization process CHILDREN Initial and complex assessment of the children and their families Elaboration of individualized assistance plans for each child Reintegration of deinstitutionalized children in biological/extended family Development of social community services and specialized services (foster care, family-type home) Preparation and transfer of the children into social services Integration of deinstitutionalized children in mainstream schools and community services HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCES AND GOODS Information of the staff from institutions regarding transformation Assessment of human resources Planning of the HR reconversion / requalification Organization of reconversion / requalification trainings, HR transfer to new services Transfer of the RI from the central level to the regional/municipal level Redirection of the financial resources and goods from the RI to services

The results of the reform of the childcare system / residential institutions children residential institutions children The number of children decreased by 62%

Lumos’s cooperation framework in Moldova October 13, 2006 Cooperation protocol ( ) signed between the Moldovan Government and CHLG March 25, 2008 Inter-ministerial Cooperation Agreement ( ) to implement programmes on deinstitutionalization, infant mortality and the development of inspection system September 9, 2010 Inter-ministerial Cooperation Agreement (2010 – 2015) extends the existent programmes and establishes a programme on inclusive education

LUMOS’ activities General Objective To support the Moldovan Government to accelerate and improve the quality of deinstitutionalization and reform of health, education and social protection systems for children and families. Level of the activities Central level: Ministry of Education Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry of Health Local level: County Council Department of Social Assistance for Family and Child Department of Education Mainstream schools Health institutions

Projects in implementation Projects in implementation REFORM OF THE RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PREVENTING AND REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY RATE AT HOME ACCREDITATION, AND EVALUATION MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

Specific objectives 1. Ensuring international standards in reform 2. Ensuring access to services for all children 3. Development of family and community based services 4. Family or family-type placements for all children 5. Quality and sustainability of services 6. Transfer of resources and development of personnel 7. Ensuring coordination of government, civil society, community participation and cross-sector cooperation 8. Mobilise public opinion to promote inclusion of vulnerable children

Lumos’ principles of deinstitutionalization No child should be removed from institution if it is not related to better care; Assessment and individual plans for children should precede and justify the transfers; Child opinion and preparation of children for the transfer have to be a priority; Support to families reintegrating children should be available simultaneously with transfer of children; Preventing institutionalization through community based services and family substitute services; Statutory services to monitor situation of each child at the local level have to be established.

DI implementation in the pilot regions 1. Complex needs assessment and development of the Social Maps of the pilot regions 2.Development and approval of the regional Action Plan on the Reform of the Residential Child Care System for Evaluation of children from residential institutions and development of placement plans 4.Creation of new social services (foster care, small group homes) 5.Development of inclusive education 6.Closure of the residential institutions 7.Redirection of the human and financial resources from the residential institutions to the newly established services 8.Capacity building of human resources 5879 specialists

Children in institutions in Lumos’ pilot regions InstitutionsNo. of children 2009 No. of children 2012 Closure Residential Special School - Marculesti, Floresti (learning disability) Residential School Napadova, Floresti (vulnerable children) Residential School Vascauti, Floresti (vulnerable children) Residential Special School Ialoveni (physical disability) Residential School no. 2 Chisinau (vulnerable children)

Solutions applied in DI process ( ) Types of solutionsNo. of children Reintegrated in biological/extended families191 Transferred to newly established services (foster care, small group homes) 54 Prevented from institutionalization255 Assistance/support to graduates247

Support services for inclusive education No.Support services 1. Assigned specialist responsible for inclusive education within Regional Department of Education 2. Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance Service under the Department of Education at regional level 3. Multidisciplinary commission within mainstream school for children with special educational needs 4.Inclusive education resource center within mainstream school 5.Support teachers within resource center

Children’s Day, 01 June 2011

Thank you for your attention Domnica Gînu Manager of Programme Development and Quality Assurance Lumos Moldova 14/1 Banulescu Bodoni Str. Chisinau, Moldova MD-2012 Tel: Mob: Website: Národní centrum podpory transformace sociálních služeb 3P Consulting, s. r. o. Římská 12, Praha 2 Součást individuálního projektu MPSV Podpora transformace sociálních služeb.