Transformaction of Institutions for PWDs and development of local services Ljubomir Pejakovic Child Rights Centre, Belgrade June 2006.

All former analyses… Pointed on extremely difficult status of children with developmental disorders who are in Institutions for social care. For example, around 80% of these children live out of place of birth; in four Institutions for children with developmental disorders there are adults with the developmental disorders; all of these Institutions have from 150 to 700 users and are out of urban areas

The aims of institutional transformation To do the analyse of care protection plans for all users until 18 years of age with aim to investigate the possibilities for changes the types of care for users who could use some less restrictive type of service To do the analyse of children’s accommodation with focus on children settled in these institutions regarding the type and the level of disorder which are not in correlation with these type of institutions. To initiate decision making process on providing referral care protection in correlation with possibilities of environmental areas and the highest possible interest of the child.

Expected results of the project 1. Plans for transformation of five institutions for settlement of children with developmental disorders. 2. Data base for all children settled in all institutions, with qualitative and quantitative data, as well as data on involvement of local communities involvement in financial support to social care. 3. Basic working programs for children who are on settlement and who are leaving institutional care

Expected results of the project 4. Individual plans for care protection for about 850 children and youngsters in institutions with representatives of Centres for Social Work and expert’s team from the institutions. 5. Educated 30 associates from the institutions and Centres for Social Work for realisation of individual plans for care protection, monitoring and work with children settled in these institutions 8. Educated 30 associates from the institutions, local Centres for Social Work and representatives of the local communities for realisation of developmental plans of services in the local community.

continuation  Based on suggestion for changes of care protection type, number of children will be returned to their natural families and some of them will be settled in the institutions for children without parents in place of their birth.  Some institutions will be prohibited of further children settlement.  Selection and education of foster/feeding families for children with developmental disorders will be intensified

continuation  The possibilities of Day care centres for children with developmental disorders will be investigated within municipalities which will be funded by SIF  Serial of educational seminars will be realised with employees in Birth care hospital departments how to motivate parents to accept children with developmental disorders  There will be initiatives on changes the Law of financial support to family with aim to introduce more stimulate and comprehensive measures for families with children with developmental disorders.

Institutions for settlement of psychiatric patients  Detailed analyses of the status of users will be done in these institutions regarding quality of services, number of users vs capacities and normative for staff and equipment.  Number of users will be adjusted with real capacity of the institutions.  Consultations with Ministry of Health will be continued with aim to change regulations and contracts for better care of the users.

Challenges of transformation process 1. Centralised funding system 2. Lack of support to natural families 3. Undeveloped network of services 4. Insufficient specialised feeding families 5. Inefficient early detection and support 6. Insufficient sensibilisation of “expert” public for PWDs 7. Resistance towards changes from employees in institutions