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05/11/08
Ukrainian reforms in social sphere attract colleagues from the former USSR
Ukrainian reforms in social sphere attract colleagues from the former USSR
November 5, 2008
In October EveryChild Ukraine organized a series of study visits to Ukraine aiming to present colleagues from former USSR republics (Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) positive results of introduced innovations in social methodic and technologies for Ukrainian system of childcare.
According to delegates, their choice of EveryChild Ukraine to organize study tours was based on positive feedbacks from previous participants. They indicated that on EveryChild Ukraine study tours participants have gained important and timely lessons from examining other child care systems.
Most importantly they have been able to apply what they have learned to their own work at home, and have made valuable contacts in the country they are visiting. EveryChild Ukraine has a considerable experience in reforming childcare issues, has a reliable partners on state and NGO levels, and moreover – can present result of its work in simple and clear, understandable way, applicable to neighborhood countries.
Programme of visits covered legal framework for the organization of social services in Ukraine, presentations of Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports, State Social Service, Kyiv State Regional Administration, City Councils of Kyiv region, organization of the social services at different levels, from the national/policy level to administration (inspection / supervision / licensing) and service delivery level for different categories of the population,decentralization practices of social services (models and typologies for children, families, disabled children), financing of social services and the partnership model with the non government/private sector, visits to different public and non-public social care services at the service delivery level (regabilitation centers, mother and baby units, child care), visits to social service centers on city, regional and village levels.
This study visit covered different aspects of the integrated social services model in terms of policy making, management and administration at all social system levels. Participants gained an understanding of how social services can be organized and managed in order to meet efficiency without compromising the need and integrity of the individual.
It outlined the local experience in the development of social services policy and its implementation issues and challenges at all levels of social system. It aimed to both provide basics facts about the Ukrainian model of integrated social services as well as inspire participants.
Participants were impressed by a fruitful cooperation of state structures and NGO sector, and moreover, by a state recognition of input, made by charity and non-governmental organizations, to solve socially important issues, as well as by a high level of coordination between services and Ministries to serve the best interest of a child.
Building on EveryChild Ukraine experience with study tours the programs were a forum for the exchange of experience and ideas about major issues in child care, organization, delivery and policy.
Russian delegates from St.-Petersburg shared their impressions about the visit: "For us the most important thing in the visit – is to see changes in Ukrainian child care system with our own eyes. We do hope that our new knowledge, gained in Ukraine, will become an important precondition for improvements in child care system not only of St.-Petersburg, but across Russia”.
Tadjikistan delegation, consisted from a high level officials from Ministries and Government took part in a round-table “Social work in Ukraine: problems and perspectives of human resources”.Making an overall evaluation of the study visits, it is worth saying that international participants explored current issues in the Ukrainian social service that were relevant to the post-USSR context with great enthusiasm. After visits to organizations, meetings with Ukrainian colleagues, getting familiar with the major management, policy, and social delivery issues facing Ukraine, they admitted alikeness of economic and social context between countries which is useful for further bilateral cooperation.