COVASNA COUNTY’S SOCIAL SERVICES FOR DISABLED PERSONS dr.Tatár Márta - county councillor Vass Mária head of the Covasna County Social and Child Care Directorate Equal Europe For Disabled Istanbul (TR) proposal to create a working group in AER Committee 2 Istanbul, 19-21February, 2009.

The Geographical Location of Covasna County in Romania Covasna county is situated in the middle of Romania and it is one of the smallest counties.

Covasna County Area: 3705 km² -1,55% of Romania Population: ,03% 60,04 inhabitans/km2 Hungarian: ,79% Romanian: ,28% Romany:5973-2,68% Other:198-0,25% Local public administration: municipalities - 3 towns - 40 villages

Disabled People 525 children with different grade of severity of disability 3129 adults with disability 1,64% of the population The true number is much higher

Social Institutions National level: 3 institutions, all being subordinated to the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection: –National Authority for the Protection of Child’s Rights –Romanian Office for Adoptions –National Authority for People with Disabilities The legal frame is given by the law 448/2006 in full concordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

County level (Institutions subordinated to the County Council) Covasna County Social and Child Care Directorate Commission for Child Protection County Medical Commission for Adult Disabled Persons

Local level:  Public Services for Social Assistance are organised at municipality, town and village level  Consultative Community Boards  Lack of professional personnel

NGOs At county level there are several NGOs functioning in the social assistance sphere Their activity field includes: counseling, day care, staff trainings They must have accreditation for functioning

Roles of the Covasna County General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Assistance and support for adult handicaped person in accordance with their classification; It assures protection and day care services in the subordinate units; According to law, it ensures the payment of the social aid; Collaborates with the NGO-s in order to promote development and diversification of services; Support of people with handicap aiming social integration through access to workplace

Services for Children with Disability Complex evaluation office for children – 770 examination per year 2 schools with special program for disabled children 1. Residential system 2. Day care system Special residential and day care rehabilitation institutes for children with severe disability

Rehabilitation Centre for Autistic and Sensory Disabled Children With the support of an EU Phare Project EURO - offers daily rehabilitation for 12 children - offers daily rehabilitation for 12 children - Staff: 9 specialists:psychologist, doctor, social nurses

Program for Children with Autism Inclusion through art Education Exposition of the work of art of the children Staff: psychologist, medical nurse,

Community Complex Services for Disabled Children The institution offers:- protection and home for 12 children - rehabilitation for 24 children - day care center for 12 children - Staff : 21 specialists ( psychologist, physician, social and medical assistant, kinetotherapeutist, psichopedagogue) Financed: -NGO -National Authority for the Protection of Child’s Rights -Covasna County Council

The Rehabilitation Centre in Baraolt Town - This center includes a rehabilitation unit for 10 children with severe handicap - Staff: 4 specialist ( psychologist, medical assistant and special nurse)

Rehabilitation Center for severe disabled Children in Târgu Secuiesc municipality It’s part of a EU Phare Project ( EURO) This center offers rehabilitation for 24 children with sever handicap, having 16 specialized staff ( psychologist, psychopedagogue, social assistant, special nurse, speech therapist, specialist, kinetotherapeutist)

Family Home for Pronounced Disabled Children in Lunga village - Established with the help of a EU Phare Project (37.357,5 euro ) - This house offers protection, home and rehabilitation for 8 children with the help of 7 special nurses.

Service for Adult Persons with Disabilities Medical committee for evaluation –Four grade of handicap The total number is: 3129 person The total number is: 3129 person I. gr.(severe)1141 II.gr.(pronounced)1615 III. gr. (moderate) 329 IV.gr. (mild) 44 Committee to analize the problems of persons with handicap - the members of this committee consists from the representatives of local administration and two organization of disabled people : Association of disabled persons with physical handicap and the Association of the blind persons

Family Home for Disabled Children in Tinoasa Village establised with the financial contribution of a EU Phare Project (37.357,5 EURO) This house offers protection, home and rehabilitation for 8 children, with the help of 7 special nurses

Services for Adults with Severe Disability Assistance and Protection Home for Disabled People in Tg. Secuiesc - offers home for 12 disabled adults, with the help of 7 special nurses

Ambulatory for Rehabilitation in Neuro- muscular Deficiency- Tg. Secuiesc Legal and Financial framework: Programme of National Interest National Authority for People with Disabilities ~ EURO General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection ~ EURO Yearly offering rehabilitation (physiotherapy) for 240 adult persons Staff: physician, kinetotherapeutist, medical assistant

Ergotherapy Centre in Tg.Secuiesc Municipality 2 employees from an NGO ( an art therapeutist and an ergotherapeutist) are offering work therapy services for 10 persons/ day

Defectiveness in the Social System for Disabled Persons Till now our activities were directed predominantly to create rehabilitation programs for children with sever disability Less programmes for adult persons Insufficient programmes targeting social inclusion of persons with disability Lack of residential service for persons with severe neurological and psychiatric disorder Lack of personnel, insufficient of qualified staff Lack of adequate workplaces number for disabled persons

The Strong Points of our Social System for Disabled Persons Proper collaboration with NGOs to create PPP for new services Some good practice in rehabilitation programs for children with disability, Clear strategies for diversification of services Staff anxious to get higher qualification

Our plans for the future Continue to develop the existing social services (homecare, rehabilitation and therapy centers); New service facilities (social dispensary and rehabilitation centre for psychic disabled people, day care centres); Human resources development; Social integration (through protected work places), special units for vocational guidance;

Networking and Interregional Cooperation Common projects for development and training of human resources To adapt best practice in the field of social inclusion of people with disabilities: protected workplaces, centers for ergotherapy for persons with severe handicap Become acquainted with the social systems and services from other regions of AER Exchange of experience

Thank You for your attention!