The series of one-day trainings called "Development of local programs for family support and reform of institutional care based on strategic planning and gate-keeping mechanism" within the project "Prevention of Separation of Children and Families through Implementation of Gate-Keeping in Ukraine", carried out by EveryChild Ukraine took place in April in Fastiv, Vyshgorod and Brovary (Kyiv region).

Trainings were conducted as a response on the existing problems which indicate deficiency of  skills in development and implementation of effectively working local programmes in social policy.

Activities aimed to provide state and local policymakers with valuable information about proven strategies to overcome a range of problems affecting children, families and communities, as well as to develop drafts of local policies and programs for family support and reform of institutional care using gate-keeping mechanism and integrated approach towards development of social services for crisis families with children.

The programme was intended mostly for local authorities, managers of existing various types of institutions in the field of social politics, managers of public (governmental) and non-governmental institutions and other subjects acting in support environment.

During the seminar participants learned about strategies in national policy for family support and reform of institutional care, discussed the local community's role in performing these strategies, examined key elements of Kyiv Oblast Complex Program for Family Support, Prevention of Child Neglect and Homelessness, Reform of Residential Care "Towards Children" for 2008-2017.

Specialists discussed facilitation of interagency co-operation process towards crises families with children, specifics of strategic planning in social protection of children and families. They identified main achievements and problems cities do have today, analyzed current state of vulnerable children and families, the needs in social services at local level. Participants developed their skills in setting up models of social services for families and children according to local needs, introduced algorithms of actions to implement developed programmes, trained to allocate potential resources for necessary activities.

The gained knowledge and information is critical to policymakers during a recession, when resources are shrinking and state and local governments are working to implement the most cost-effective policies.