Description
In Slovakia, there are many attempts to capture and regulate the diversity and variety of life situations in which a person may find himself, for example, in the field of social services, it is the law on social services, which is opaque, amended 20 times. SocioForum prepared a conceptual proposal for the reform of the IDEA SS social protection in 2019. However, it still sees a great need to open a discussion on the necessary restore in the area of crisis intervention. It is a broad area that includes support in various forms (prevention programs, field and outpatient forms) for numerous target groups (homeless people, families in crisis, people with addictions). The organization has the expert potential to moderate such a discussion, but it needs to strengthen its expert position, as well as the organizational and administrative support of the organization.
The project is aimed at strengthening the advocacy function of the Independent Platform SocioFórum as a relevant partner of the state/public administration in the creation of public policies in the social field. It will strengthen the expertise of the platform members in favour of public policy proposals and participation in the establishment of several strategic materials in Slovakia and the preparation of the new programming period for Euro funds. Through the project, it seeks to help ensure that social protection measures are not an aid objective but an instrument of social inclusion.
The plan is to formulate the ideological intention of the reform of crisis intervention services, participation in the preparation of public policies, including the preparation of a new programming period for Euro funds, as well as strategic planning of the organization, including setting up a communication strategy and sustainability plans for SocioForum as a separate legal entity.
The project will be beneficial for the members of the organization, the organization itself and also for other civil society organizations.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to strengthen the advocacy of SocioFórum, strengthen the operational activities of the organization, support the expertise of members of the organization in favor of their own public policy proposals, but also participation in creating strategic materials of the Slovak Republic public policies in the social field. During the project, SocioFórum representatives were nominated to important working groups created mainly by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family, where they could participate in the creation of important documents. SocioFórum commented on 14 draft legislation, of which 9 in the inter-ministerial comment procedure, made several statements on the current situation in the social field and also opened/supported discussion on topics important for its members by letter communication with public administration bodies.The organization''s participation in public policy-making was reflected in the interest of its members in education. A total of 127 people took part in the training of the SocioFórum organization, including local government representatives. During the project, 16 members were added (13 organizations and 3 individuals). The creation of the Idea Proposal for the Reform of Crisis Intervention Services brought together member organizations with different focus within the group, but at the same time strengthened their participation in the creation of their own proposals, commenting on policy proposals in this area.During the project, there was a need to increase the awareness of member organizations in various topics, so 9 printed and electronically published outputs were produced, which were also placed on the website for the needs of the general public. SocioForum played an important role for its members as a mediator of information from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic on how to proceed with the COVID-19 virus. It also explained to the public administration the field problems that members were facing in connection with COVID-19. Thanks to the project, we managed to set the conditions for the long-term sustainable operation of the organization, in terms of communication with members and other partners in the social field, but also in terms of financial sustainability of the organization.