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Supporting care transformation in Ukraine based on disability inclusion approach

Supporting care transformation in Ukraine based on disability inclusion approach

During April and May 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy and the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, in partnership with the European Disability Forum (EDF), UNICEF, Hope and Homes for Children, Lumos, Save the Children Ukraine, and SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine organised five days of training and strategic planning on the Transformation of Care and Support Systems for Children and Families in Ukraine.

The workshops were attended by more than 100 representatives of the Ukrainian President’s office, government and Parliament, the European Union; civil society, young people with lived experience of institutionalisation, and persons with disabilities.

Results and recommendations

On 12 July 2023, the partners presented the results and recommendations from this unique, inclusive collaboration.

The event was attended by almost 80 participants from among representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, international institutions and civil society.

The event was opened by the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oksana Zholnovych, who said:

We insist that money is not invested in the reconstruction of institutions, on the contrary, we encourage investing money in the purchase of apartments for foster families, as well as in the development of services, including support for biological families. All this is part of the recovery plan of Ukraine. There are no easy solutions in this area.

EDF external expert Georgette Mulheir presented the document with recommendations and added:

Institutionalisation is inherently harmful to children; family care has better outcomes. This has been proven by 100 years of scientific evidence. Some children are at a higher risk than others of serious harm, in particular, babies and children with disabilities. They should be prioritised in the DI process. The war increases the risk of serious harm to these children and also to those who have moved to other European countries – and those deported to Russia. Institutionalisation is contrary to children’s rights and disability rights

She added that:

Successful, sustainable deinstitutionalisation (DI) at scale involves: designing services based on local needs, not ‘one-size fits all; strengthening and making inclusive universal health, education and social services; developing targeted family and community-based services to replace institutions – family strengthening first; preventing children from entering institutions; finding family-based placements for all children currently living in institutions, including children with disabilities. Most importantly, ways must be found to ensure that children with disabilities, young care-leavers and families are empowered to help lead the process of change.

Discussions amongst participants

During the discussion, international and Ukrainian experts spoke, including, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Pavlo Sushko, a representative of the group of graduates of residential institutions, Kyrylo Nevdokha, and Iris Abraham, a representative of Dubravka Suica, Vice President of the European Commission, who said:

The EU is ready to support this process. It is obvious that Ukraine cannot be rebuilt without these reforms.

Head of the Coordinating Center for Family Care in Ukraine, Iryna Tulyakova, commented:

I hope that this measure will be an impetus for the reform of DI, based on previous achievements. We plan to create an international expert group to introduce a unified work plan for the development of family forms of education. Coordinated activities of donors and synchronization of communication campaigns are important. We are ready to hear children’s voices.

All participants noted the thoroughness and necessity of the developed recommendations, the importance of coordination of efforts and information exchange and agreed to take the developed document as a road map.

Watch the video recording

“ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЯ СИСТЕМИ ДОГЛЯДУ ТА ПІДТРИМКИ ДІТЕЙ І СІМЕЙ В УКРАЇНІ” (Transformation of the care and support system for children and families in Ukraine)

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