The European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care Claire Champeix, Coordinator European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care (EEG) 6 May 2014

 The EEG  Common European guidelines on the transition from Institutional to Community- based care  Tool Kit on the use of EU funds for the transition from institutional care to community- based services Overview of the presentation

UNICEF The EEG

 Recommendation from the Ad Hoc Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based care convened in 2009 by Commissioner Špidla  A wealth of experience, research and evidence on managing the transition from institutional to community-based care, based on members’ work in a number of countries and with a wide range of user groups Who we are

 Alternatives can and must be developed, in line with international human rights treaties, with the participation of people concerned, consisting of quality community-based services which respond to the needs of each individual. What we stand for:

 Facilitating seminars on de-institutionalisation  Training and capacity-building  Expertise  Advocacy (EU institutions, Funders…)  Providing tools for change: -Common European Guidelines on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based care -- Tool-Kit on the use of the EU funds for the transition from institutional care to Community-based services What we do

∗ Purpose and scope of the guidelines: - Understanding the key terms - Making the case for de-institutionalisation - Key principles for implementing a transition ∗ Using the Common European Guidelines on De-institutionalisation Common European Guidelines

What is an institution? Size matters, but it is NOT what defines an institution. It can be a place where 10 people live together, or where 350 people live together. ©Yana Buhrer Tavanier©ENIL

∗ Residents are isolated from the broader community and/or compelled to live together ∗ They do not have sufficient control over their lives and over decisions which affect them ∗ The requirements of the organisation itself tend to take precedence over the residents’ individualised needs It is the following characteristics that define an institution:

∗ It is NOT about replacing large buildings with smaller buildings ∗ We need to de-institutionalise the system, not the people living in institutions: to de-institutionalise the way people are perceived and treated, to de- institutionalise the way support is provided, to de-institutionalise the way support is funded What is de-institutionalisation?

∗ Spectrum of services that: ∗ enable children to grow up in a family environment ∗ enable adults with disabilities to live included in the community ∗ include preventative measures for early intervention and family support ∗ include specialised services, such as personal assistance for persons with disabilities, respite care etc. ∗ encompass mainstream services (housing, healthcare, childcare, education, employment, sports, culture and leisure) which should be accessible to everyone What are community-based services?

 Obligations under the UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)  Obligations under the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child  Obligations under the European convention on Human Rights Making the case

∗ Continuous reports of human rights abuses ∗ Damaging effects of institutionalisation, especially on very young children, but also on adults ∗ Investment into institutional care is poor public policy, with public funding going into services shown to produce poor outcomes for those who use them ∗ … Other reasons to develop community- based alternatives to institutional care

∗ Build the vision for the future lives of children and adults with care and/or support needs, and get all the stakeholders on board. ∗ Make sure that the person using or needing the services is at the centre of the reform. ∗ Build legislative support for the inclusion of all groups in the community - review existing legislation and policies. ∗ Facilitate meaningful participation of users at all stages of the process. ∗ Use Structural Funds to cover transitional costs. Key principles 1/3

∗ Ensure that services developed are based on the following principles: ∗ full participation in the community ∗ choice and participation ∗ person-centred and child centred support ∗ continuity of service delivery ∗ separation of housing and support, and ∗ dispersed over cluster-style housing Key principles 2/3

∗ In the framework of a DI strategy, develop quality standards linked to the rights and quality of life of service users. ∗ Build policies and strategies for monitoring and evaluation into all stages of deinstitutionalisation process. ∗ Involve the staff in the process from the very beginning. ∗ Communicate the importance of de- institutionalisation and what it involves to the broader community. Key principles 3/3

Holistic approach to DI

∗ Tailored to countries at different stages in the process of transition ∗ Based on best practice ∗ Outline risks and challenges ∗ Guidance on how to ensure actions taken are in line with the CRPD, CRC and ECHR ∗ Emphasis on management, cross-sectoral coordination and user involvement ∗ Endorsed by the European Commission Using the Common European Guidelines

 A detailed tool aimed at assiting public authorities and stakeholders involved in the programming and implementation of Structural Funds to fully use the potential of SF to support the development of quality family-based and community based alternatives to insitutional care.  Revised edition (May 2014) Tool Kit on the use of EU Funds for the transition from institutional care to community-based services

 The Toolkit aims to help Member States and the European Commission:  Ensure that at the programming stage de-institutionalisation is included and that the established priorities and actions correspond to the real needs.  At the stage of implementation, ensure that projects selected for funding support genuine community-based options, rather than smaller institutions.  Ensure that what is being monitored and evaluated is whether the measures supported by SF facilitated social inclusion of those in institutional care or at risk of institutionalisation.  Ensure meaningful involvement of the civil society at all stages. Using the Toolkit

 Main principles and the legal context  Programming  Implementation  Monitoring and evaluation  Including check lists, case studies and examples, lessons learned from the previous period. Tool kit / content

Claire Champeix Thank you! Further information