Ensuring the rights and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities is one of the state's priorities, which requires consolidation of efforts by the authorities, communities, and international partners. As part of these efforts, the Ukrainian-Swiss Mental Health for Ukraine (MH4U) project, supported by the Swiss government, held the Supported Living Forum "Person Among People".
The event was attended by more than 200 participants in the hall and about 800 participants online, including representatives of social protection departments, communities, and service providers.
Key conclusions of the Forum
The Forum presented government policies and international experience aimed at developing services for people with disabilities and deinstitutionalization (DI).
- Public policy: The Strategy for the Reform of Residential Institutions and Institutions for Children until 2034 was presented. In the near future, the Ministry of Social Policy plans to approve an updated State Standard of Social Services for Assisted Living.
- Funding: The mechanism of state financial support based on the principle "Money follows the person" is being tested.
- Social impact: Supported living, unlike institutionalization, has a broader positive impact. It helps to reduce hospitalizations in psychiatric hospitals and provides employment opportunities for parents/guardians, as well as some people with disabilities. However, only 1% of people in need receive supported living services.
- The main challenge: One of the key obstacles to the development of the service is the lack of methodological support and qualified staff.
Training video course "A person among people"
In response to a request for quality training for employees involved in providing supported living services, the MH4U project, in cooperation with the Lviv City Center for Social Services and Rehabilitation "Dzherelo", has developed a training video course "A Person Among People".
The course will be useful both for professionals who already provide the service and for those who are just planning to implement it. The video course is also a valuable resource for providers of residential care and other social services for people with disabilities and older people.
The course program includes 14 topics, including:
- The right to dignity: legal aspects of assisted living services.
- Ethics of support and peculiarities of interaction with people with different types of disabilities.
- Alternative communication and visual support.
- Support for people with mental disorders on a daily basis and in case of exacerbations.
Useful links:
- Course program: https://surl.li/menajh
- Forum recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/jjbAfwKRWtA
- Presentations and photos from the forum: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jHLkMXkjLu2CJGPYIWPONGTcb6GP6g4