On March 6, 2018 the second Steering Committee Meeting of the Twinning Project "Support to Ukrainian administration in developing a legal and administrative set up to introduce a system of early intervention and rehabilitation for children with disability or having a risk of disability" for the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine took place.
The Project’s aim is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian administration at central and local level in developing and introducing a system of early intervention and rehabilitation for children with disabilities and children at risk of disability thus to enhance the new role of public administration in terms of social, medical services provision including quality, accessibility, financial sustainability and an integrated approach of engaging parents in such service.
The Project is implemented jointly with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Professional Training and Social Dialogue of French Republic and French International Technical Expertise Agency (Agence Française d'Expertise Technique Internationale – AFETI) in active cooperation between the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on developing an effective regulatory basis for providing early intervention services in accordance with the standards of the European Union.
Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Mykola Shambir in his opening speech underlined the importance of project implementation within the framework for introducing early intervention system in Ukraine which will ensure the provision of quality medical, social and educational services to children with disabilities, developmental disorders and children at risk of disability.
Head of Section – Economic Cooperation, Social and Regional Development of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Juana Mera-Cabello in welcoming speech offered to provide fullest support of the European side to the Twinning project despite the difficulties experienced during in its implementation period.
At the same time, MS Project Leader Andrii Tretiak presented for the consideration of participants of the Steering Committee the 2nd quarterly report of the project, outlined the main realized activities during reporting period for all components, particulary a comparative analysis of the current legal framework of rehabilitation for children with disabilities and children at risk of disability in Ukraine with the legislative basis of France, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia was carried out, a meeting of the Platform for the implementation of the dialogue to create the early intervention service system was held, signatory parties to the Memorandum on Early Intervention were Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Public Association “National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine”, Charitable Foundation “Early Intervention Institute, All-Ukrainian Fund for the Protection of Children's Rights, the United Nations Children's Fund in Ukraine (UNICEF), the Soft Tulip Foundation, the European Association for Early Intervention “EURLYAID” and representatives of pilot regions.
Furthermore, the model of database of analysis and information system for compiling statistics on children with disabilities and children at risk of disability was prepared and approved and the next steps in the project realization in the pilot regions (Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Odesa) were discussed, as well as Communication strategywas developed.
During the event, priority area of activity of the project in the context of the implementation of the deinstitutionalization reform and the introduction of early intervention services in Ukraine were discussed, aimed at creating a service that would meet modern requirements and the best European standards.
On behalf of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union Inna Bielobratova, Deputy Head of the Projects Management Unit participated in the meeting and underlined strategic importance of the project and presented the main comments of the Twinning Programme Administrative Office to the quarterly report.
For reference: according to Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine “On Approval of the Procedure for Initiation, Preparation and Implementation of the Twinning Projects” as of 11 October, 2016 No 700 the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service coordinates the implementation of the institution building instrument of the European Union Twinning in Ukraine. Furthermore, in accordance with relevant legal acts the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the coordinator of institution building instrument TAIEX implementation in Ukraine. In order to provide effective coordination of Twinning and TAIEX the Twinning Program Administration Office in Ukraine was established, its functions are performed by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union.
Twinning Project "Support to Ukrainian administration in developing a legal and administrative set up to introduce a system of early intervention and rehabilitation for children with disability or having a risk of disability" includes its main goals:
- review the current legislation on and rehabilitation for children with disabilities and children at risk of disability and providing them with social services;
- prepare a project for a new system of early intervention services for children with disabilities ant at risk of disability;
- create a basic standard and calculation of the cost of early intervention service;
- prepare a project for reporting, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of early intervention service of Ukraine.
