Aspects of the Implementation of the Strategy for the Life of Children with Disabilities in Families

On June 15-17, 25 specialists from Minsk region took part in the practical seminar. There were representatives from the Social and Pedagogical Centers, Centers for Correctional and Developmental Training and Development, National Center for Adoption, Minsk Regional Institute for the Development of Education, the territorial center for social services for the population, guardianship authorities and a boarding house.
Thanks to the seminar, the number of specialists who systematically and at a higher professional level have expanded the issues of preventing children with disabilities from entering residential institutions and aspects of placement in foster families of children in this category. This allows us to move on to the development and implementation of strategies for the deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities by specialists at the regional level and by the heads of regional bodies and organizations.
The content of the seminar was aimed at the formation of knowledge about modern views on the problem of disability, the very concept of deinstitutionalization, the formation of ideas about the relevance of this problem in our country. Based on the knowledge of the other participants of the seminar, the knowledge of specialists about national and international legislation, state and regional plans and programs that make the process of deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities relevant and mandatory for our country was systematized and expanded.
Based on the information provided about the role, place and competencies of state bodies and organizations in solving the problem of deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities (at the country and region level), the participants of the seminar formed their vision of the competencies of district authorities and organizations in realizing the right of children to a family. Also, the participants received a systematic understanding of the needs of the child and the forms of assessment of these needs, as the foundation for working with the child's birth and foster families. The participants got acquainted with the technology of case management as the most effective method of interdepartmental work with a child, his native or substitute family.
Interdepartmental and interregional contacts became an additional result of the seminar. The formed ideas about the relevance and timeliness of solving the problems of deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities, about the inevitability of solving these problems in their professional activities, about the need and possible forms of interdepartmental interaction is not just important, but one of the defining steps in promoting the deinstitutionalization strategy.