Conference about deinstitutionalization held in Belgrade

Conference about deinstitutionalization held in Belgrade

WP_20141208_09_18_41_ProConference „Advancing the process of transition from institutional care to community-based services in Serbia“ was held in Belgrade in Palace Serbia on December 8th 2014 organized by the European Expert Group on transition from institutional to community-based care and Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of Serbia.

Opening speeches were held by Mr. Aleksandar Vulin, Minister, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Djukic, State Secretary of Ministry of Health, Mr. John Halloran, Co-chair, European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care (EEG) and Mr. Holger Schroeder, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation in Serbia.

The conference was attended by the representatives of various institutions and organization from the sector of social and healthcare.

Dr. Monika Gabanyi, OPEN ARMS project team leader attended the conference accompanied with other project team members. Key project expert Dr. Jan Pfeiffer, member of EEG presented the key principles of Deinstitutionalisation process.

While talking about process of deinstitutionalization as an EU priority, Dr. Pfeiffer said that Serbia must find a way to provide support to local communities to shift to a new system to provide services to users. He explained that transition to a different system needs to include inclusion and to empower people who will provide services.

Parallel workshops were held during the conference (preventing the placement of children in institutional care and transition from institutional care to community-based services for adults).

In closing remarks participants concluded that deinstitutionalisation for all vulnerable groups is the pathway in Serbia. It is a complex transformation but with support from all stakeholders there is good chance to implement it gr

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