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Description
The project builds on the UNICEF’s AURORA success initiative adding new functionalities to this system. It aims to provide integrated social services for 1,250 people (of which 889 persons with disabilities, including children) from 50 localities (49 rural settlements, an urban settlement – all with less than 20,000 inhabitants) in Bacau and Vrancea counties.
The activities include: development of 11 community centres, provision of social and medical services for 1,250 people (mobile and telemedicine); parental education services for 200 persons, training in Social and Civic Skills for 50 professionals working with vulnerable groups; trans-county meetings and best practice workshops that will be attended by at least 100 professionals. A model of intervention in working with vulnerable groups will be developed; also 50 custom action plans tailored on the needs of each community will be developed (the conclusions will be translated into social services strategies at the level of the two counties).
PP - the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Bacau will coordinate the project and will deliver the social interventions in Bacau county, the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Vrancea (P1) will ensure the social interventions in Vrancea county and the FOUNDATION "CENTRE FOR POLICIES AND HEALTH SERVICES" (P2) will ensure the parental education and will deliver the medical services (mobile and telemedicine).
Summary of project results
The project was multi-regional, being implemented in 50 localities across the NE and SE regions, targeting communities facing common issues that can be addressed in an integrated manner. The key issues addressed were as follows:
Vulnerable Families
Vulnerable families need support in raising and caring for their children. The project responded to these needs by providing parental education services aimed at developing specific parenting skills, informing them about children''s disabilities, available habilitation/rehabilitation alternatives, treatment options, and educational and social integration opportunities for children. The needs of vulnerable families were addressed comprehensively: while children in vulnerable situations benefited from social and medical services, the adult members of their families received social services and parental education. Failure to address these needs would lead to increased school dropout rates and difficulties in children''s adaptation to independent living.
Children with Disabilities
Access to social and medical services for children with disabilities in the targeted communities remains limited. Therefore, measures were needed to promote their social inclusion and ensure a smooth transition to independent living, in line with the development strategies for social services in Bacău and Vrancea counties. Through the project, mobile social and medical services, including telemedicine, were provided to 88 children. Additionally, consultations with local stakeholders revealed limited access to assessment services for children with disabilities.
Generally, the project addressed key issues such as:
- Limited access to social services for disadvantaged groups in 50 localities in Bacău and Vrancea counties
- Reduced access to social assistance, educational, and healthcare services for disadvantaged groups in these 50 localities
- Limited capacity of local public authorities, professionals, and volunteers working or interacting with vulnerable groups in these communities
The project improved access to social services for disadvantaged groups in 50 localities across Bacău and Vrancea counties and enhanced the capacity of local authorities to provide these services. Educational services (parental education), social services, and mobile medical services, including telemedicine, were delivered.
Parents participated in 40 workshops and informational sessions that helped them become aware of their role in disease prevention, promoting food hygiene, and more. These sessions were tailored to the specific needs of each group and addressed key aspects of children''s well-being, including health needs, caregiving needs, physical and emotional needs, educational needs, and recreational needs.
Social services included counselling, support groups, physical therapy, and speech therapy.
Medical services consisted of mobile consultations and medical caravans for 250 beneficiaries, as well as health education events focused on preventing communicable diseases and high-mortality conditions.
The project was implemented by a consortium consisting of two social service providers and a non-governmental organization. One of its key achievements was the development of an intervention model and best practices for working with vulnerable groups in the 50 communities. A needs assessment was conducted, based on which 50 intervention plans were developed to optimize service delivery for vulnerable groups. Additionally, support services were enhanced for professionals and volunteers working with these groups in the two counties.