A new social service for the comprehensive development and care of children with special educational needs from the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine
A new pilot project for the procurement of a social service for the comprehensive development and care of children with disabilities is being launched in Ukraine. The project will last 2 years and will be implemented at the expense of the state budget. The main goal is the social integration and development of children from 6 years old who have special educational needs with the necessary level of support not lower than IV.
Project objectives:
✔Integration of the child into the educational process, the opportunity to learn, develop skills and socialize;
✔Determination of the social need for the relevant service;
✔Equipment of special premises where the service will be provided;
✔Selection of providers who meet the requirements and their motivation to provide quality services on the basis of open selection;
✔Organization of special transport for transporting children to/from school;
✔The possibility of implementing co-financing of the service, in particular, utility costs, children's meals;
✔Electing a social manager who will ensure the decision-making on the provision of a social service, project coordination and assessment of its quality;
How will the service work?
Social and educational services will be provided on an individual basis. Children with special educational needs who have been assigned a level of support not lower than IV in the Inclusive Resource Center (IRC) can receive such assistance. The service will be financed from the state budget. The Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities will act as the national purchaser and will pay for the work of service providers.
Individuals and legal entities-entrepreneurs who:
-are included in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organizations;
-are included in the Register of Providers and Recipients of Social Services;
-have an appropriate number of specialists (social worker, educator, psychologist, physical rehabilitation specialist, social worker);
In the premises where the service is provided, video cameras with online access for the children's parents should be installed, as well as - a social manager to monitor the quality of the project implementation. If the child regularly attends school and has sufficient success rates - service providers can receive a motivational payment - 24 thousand UAH per child per month.
How can parents use such a service for their child?
Parents or legal representatives of a child with a disability should contact the local government body (social manager). After that, the child must undergo an assessment at the IRC and receive a conclusion on the need for the service, and then - choose a service provider from among those approved by the social manager.
This project is a completely new approach to implementing social policy. Instead of funding institutions, the state purchases services regardless of the form of ownership. This allows you to more effectively direct funds to where there is a real need, and to provide a flexible, targeted approach to assistance. Parents will be able to independently choose the place of receiving services (provider) for their child, and children with special educational needs will have access to high-quality education and socialization. This initiative is an excellent motivation for potential service providers and a progressive step forward towards barrier-free education of children and support for their families.
We thank the Ministry of Social Policy for the necessary project and wish you success in its implementation.
