Social care services Integral part of the safety net system Address vulnerabilities and social problems that affect poor and non-poor population alike Both preventive and reactive; The groups in need of social care services are many (children, families and women at risk, people with disabilities; elderly, etc.) Difficult situations faced by these groups negatively affect human development, labor market participation and productivity, they lead to deprivation and exclusion, and may induce significant negative externalities and social cost, if not attended to adequately and in a timely fashion The types of services are many and range from social work and psycho- social counseling, care and rehabilitation for disabled people, at home services for frail elderly, shelters, legal advice, etc. to family substitute services for children without parental care.

Relatively limited progress in reforming social care services? Although an important individual and social welfare and inclusion concern: Client demand? There should be a consensus that a particular intervention is a priority; Knowledge gap; challenging design; requires permanently new solutions; Complex for implementation with many players/interests involved Long-term involvement (projects are typically 4-5 years, implies a series of interventions) Limited resources (links to public choice and inevitable trade-offs)

What have we learned (1)? Importance of a champion (or a team of champions) and sustained strong commitment of key cabinet members (finance, in particular) Knowledge, sufficient resources and sufficient time: patience and persistence Partnership (at the national, but also international levels: speaking the same language, sharing the same vision) Political economy (no interest shall remain unaddressed)

Lessons learned (2) There is a role for everyone to play (the state, service providers, NGOs, CBOs, beneficiaries, etc.) – the importance of a balanced approach Changing laws and rules is necessary, but not sufficient for a change: persistence in implementation and sufficient resources Changing laws and rules is necessary, but not sufficient for a change: persistence in implementation and sufficient resources Education of social workers, case management, standards, plan for de-institutionalization and transformation of institutions Prevention: a range and a continuum of services