THE EUROPEAN FORUM QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES IN EVERY COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Transcription

1 THE EUROPEAN FORUM QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES IN EVERY COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Simona Maria Stănescu [1] During 6-7 June 2012, more than 250 social work professionals from Romania and abroad participated in the European Forum on Quality Social Services in Every Community. The event was organized by the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection (MoLFSP) under the SMIS project entitled Increasing the degree to which the legislation on social services is enforced at local level in the context of decentralization. The project is scheduled to be implemented during February 2010 August 2012 and is co-financed by the European Social Fund through the Administrative Capacity Development Operational Program. The project partners are the Civil Society Development Foundation, Bernard Brunhes International (BBI) and Business and Strategies in Europe (B&S Europe). The project general goal is to strengthen the local government capacity to develop and provide quality social services that meet the local needs and facilitate the social inclusion of vulnerable groups. Ms. Denisa Pătrașcu (MoLFSP State Secretary) opened the Forum focusing on The Importance of Modernizing Social Services as Part of the National Social Work System Reform. The plenary session on Social Services Reform and Sustainability - a National and European Overview was followed by the European panel on Social Services of General Interest Main Trends in Europe During and the [1] Researcher Ph.D., The Institute for Researches on Quality of Life, Romanian Academy; consultant at UNDP Romania, Tel.: ; [email protected].

2 JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ECONOMY Role of Member States in Ensuring Quality Social Services for All. The following took the floor: Ms. Andreia Moraru (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities / EASPD), Ms. Simona Giarratano (European Disability Forum / EDF), Ms. Patricia Scherer (Workability Europe), Ms. Erika Lambert (European Network for Social Integration Enterprises / ENSIE) and Mr. Harald Hauben (BBI). The plenary session on Sectorial Policies with Impact on the Social Services Sector started with the presentation made by Ms. Gianina Dimitrescu (MoLFSP Child Protection Directorate) regarding the legislative reform in the field of child protection in Romania what s new in the field of national social services for child and family. Ms. Gabriela Coman (Project manager at Focus) talked about the project entitled Improving the organizational effectiveness of the child protection system, co-financed by the European Social Fund and implemented in partnership by MoLFSP, Focus and Sera Foundation. Ms. Diana Borș (Director of Brasov District Agency for Payments and Social Inspection) presented the Agency s view of social services. The session also included European perspectives on Modernizing Social Services for People with Disabilities in Andalucia, Spain as presented by Mr. Gonzalo Rivas Rubiales (General Directorate for People with Disabilities, Andalucia, Spania). Mr. Pawel Jamrozek (Vicepresident of the SIR Association for Integration and Development, Board of directors, Poland) introduced the experience of the Polish Integration and Development Association with regard to the labor insertion of vulnerable people (especially people with disabilities) working in social enterprises. The implementation of social economy incubators in Poland raised the participants interest. Ms. Diana Chiriacescu (Team leader, MoLFSP project) concluded the plenary session with a presentation on Quality Social Services, Closer to the People Institutional Capacity Building in the Field of Social Services in Romania. The afternoon session on The Organization and Development of Social Services at Local Level consisted of a series of parallel working Vol. II Nr. 3/

3 REVISTA DE ECONOMIE SOCIALĂ groups which provided participants with the opportunity to debate theoretical and practical issues related to the delivery of social services. The working group on Assessing Local Needs and Planning the Development of Community Social Services was facilitated by Mr. Valentin Vladu (Key expert, MoLFSP project). He also held a presentation on Needs-assessment Methodology and Planning of Social Services at Local Level Key Element in Today s Social Services Reform. Ms. Andreia Moraru (Director of Alpha Transilvana Foundation) talked about The Experience of Mapping Social Services Needs in Mures District. Mr. Marius Voj (Social worker, social services expert) presented The Experience of Designing a Strategy for the Social Development of the Communities Forming the Alba Iulia Intercommunity Development Association. The working group on Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships in Implementing Social Services. Innovative Methods for Ensuring the Funding and Sustainability of Social Services. The Social Services Personnel was facilitated by Ms. Maria Kedves (Project manager at Caritas Alba Iulia). Together with Ms. Diana Berceanu (Coordinator at the Civil Society Development Foundation), she presented The Comparative Analysis of Local and District Budgets for Social Work. Mr. Harald Hauben (Key expert, MoLFSP project) presented The Public- Public Partnership in the Field of Social Services Belgium s Experience. Ms. Georgiana Ilie (Project manager at United Way Romania) held a presentation on The Involvement of Private Companies in Social Projects A Necessity. The working group on Social Services in Support of Active Employment Measures was facilitated by Ms. Diana Chiriacescu (Team leader, MoLFSP project) and it included instances of practical experience. Ms. Camelia Labadi (Timis District General Directorate for Child Protection and Social Work) shared the social economy experience of Pater Pauluș Socio-professional Integration Center from Bacova, Timiș district. Ms. Erzsebet Banga (Coordinator of the Atrium program, Alpha Transilvana Foundation, Târgu Mureș) talked about the initiative 222 Vol. II Nr. 3/2012

4 JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ECONOMY supporting the employment efforts of disadvantaged groups. Ms. Cosmina Dudu (Social worker, Coordinator of Agape Community Social Care Association) described the entrepreneurial experience of supporting young people over 18 once they leave the child protection system. Mr. Matei Ghigiu (Vicepresident of Bucharest ASSOC) presented the European Social Found project on Counseling, Employment, Changing Mentalities, Eliminating Barriers, Accessibility, Training (COMBAT). The working group conclusions were presented in the last plenary session of the forum first day. The second day of the forum started with a plenary session in which Mr. George Păun, Counselor to the Minister of Labor, voiced the message of the Minister of Labor, Family and Social Protection. This was followed by Mr. Michel Mercadié (Social Platform, Honorary President of European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless/FEANTSA, Secretary of European Anti Poverty Network/EAPN France, EC expert on social entrepreneurship). He underlined the role of social services in today s socioeconomic setting and the importance of promoting social economy and entrepreneurial initiatives as innovative means to achieve labor insertion, particularly of vulnerable groups. The forum continued with working groups in the session on Quality Social Services in Every Community. How Do We Ensure Quality of Services at Local Level? The first working group on The Active Participation of Social Services Users in Planning, Organizing and Evaluating the Services was facilitated by Mr. Harald Hauben (BBI, key expert, MoLFSP project) who held a presentation about The Involvement of Social Services Users European Trends and Challenges. Ms. Manuela Elena Oprea (Head of department at Pentru Voi Foundation, Timișoara) talked about The Active Participation of People with Intellectual Disabilities, a Prerequisite for Quality Community Social Services. Ms. Helene Mădălina Radu (Head of department at Balaciu Center for Elders, Ialomiţa district) presented The Involvement of Users - Opportunities for a Service Dedicated to the Elderly. Vol. II Nr. 3/

5 REVISTA DE ECONOMIE SOCIALĂ The working group on Social Services Accessible to All Best Practices in Eliminating the Barriers Preventing Access to Social Services was facilitated by Ms. Monica Stanciu, Independent expert, who talked about the Accessibility of Social Services the Key to Quality and Effective Services. Mr. Florin Botonogu (Policy Officer, Policy Center for Roma and Minorities) introduced The Alternative Education Club, a project implemented in School no. 136 located in Ferentari, Bucharest. Ms. Ioana Drăgan (Training coordinator at Romanian Angel Appeal) talked about The Sunflower Day Clinics Network. The working group also included the presentations of Ms. Corina Popa (Manager, Integration Associate, UNHCR) and Ms. Nina Gavriloaie (Coordinator, REVIS Vocational Training Center for Social and Professional Insertion of Young People with Disabilities, Hîrlău). The working group on What Is Reasonable Cost in the Field of Social Services? was facilitated by Ms. Diana Chiriacescu (Team leader, MoLFSP project). She presented The Evolution in Europe of the Concept of Reasonable Cost in the Field of Social Services. The session also included a presentation held by Ms. Zsuzsa Almasi (Communication officer at Prader Willi Association in Zalău). The working group on Social Services in Small or Isolated Rural Communities What Are the Existing Solutions for Meeting Their Inhabitant s Needs? was facilitated by Ms. Nicoleta Neofit, Independent expert. The following contributed to the session: Ms. Daniela Buzducea (Advocacy Director, World Vision Romania), Dr. Andras Marton (Director, Caritas Alba Iulia) and Ms. Antonina Dogariu (Executive coordinator of the House Care Services program, Iași Caritas Center). The session on Integrated/ Specialized Services Means of Organization and Quality Requirements in the Context of the New Social Work Law included a series of presentations of good practices in supporting vulnerable groups. The working group on Social Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services (Including Palliative Care Services) was facilitated by Ms. Diana Chiriacescu (Team leader, MoLFSP project). The following held presentations: Ms. Stănuţa Dae (Center Director, Day 224 Vol. II Nr. 3/2012

6 JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ECONOMY Center for Children with Autism, Constanţa), Mr. Erik Fuksz (Mozgássérült Emberek Rehabilitációs Központjának / MEREK Center for the Rehabilitation of People with Physical Disabilities, Budapest, Hungary) and Ms. Florentina Anania (Social Services Director, Hospice Casa Sperantei Foundation, Brașov). The working group on Specialized Services Delivered with the Help of Mobile Teams was facilitated by Ms. Elena Maria Ioniţă. Presentations were held by Ms. Ionel Ivan (Center Director, Blijdorp Therapeutic Center, Suceava) and Mr. Radu Tohotan (Manager, Hopes and Homes Romania, Baia Mare). The working group on Social Services and Justice (Delinquency, Probation) included the allocutions of Ms. Ionel Oprea (Assistant Ombudsman) and Ms. Steluţa Gheorghe (Parliament counselor, Romanian Senate). Mr. Maricel Maroti (President of Romania s Scouts National Organization, Brașov Branch) presented the outcomes of the program called Gifts for freedom ( ) focused on developing the independent life skills of young people serving time in Codlea penitentiary. The working group on Social Services and Addictions was facilitated by Mr. Valentin Vladu (Independent expert, MoLFSP project) and included the presentations of Ms. Alina Ionescu (Social and educational consultant, Roma Education Fund Romania) and Ms. Ștefania Gubavu (Psychologist, National Antidrug Agency Center for Integrated Support of the Addicted, Pantelimon area, sector 2, Bucharest). The forum ended with the allocution held by Ms. Carmen Manu (Director of the Social Services and Social Inclusion Directorate, MoLFSP), A View on Social Services for the Elderly. [1] The forum provided an opportunity for productive debates between representatives of central and local public authorities, representatives of public and private providers of social services, representatives of academia, and last but not least, representatives of vulnerable groups of people. The delivery of quality social services close to the target user [1] More on the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations at Vol. II Nr. 3/

7 REVISTA DE ECONOMIE SOCIALĂ groups who are provided with opportunities for active involvement is key to continuing the reform of social work. The presentations held during the forum and other information on social services in Romania can be found at We believe that, even after the project ends, this website will continue to be a useful tool for those active in the field of social work, particularly that of social services. To be noted that the website hosts the E-Registry of Social Services. You can also look up the most recent study regarding the status of social service development in 2011 under Reports and Statistics. 226 Vol. II Nr. 3/2012