Next to concern for the financial security of Polish families, social services are an important part of the state’s social policy. This is a broadly understood support for people of different ages and with different degrees of fitness, implemented in local communities.

From the very beginning, since 2015, the Law and Justice government has been working to support Polish families, including those with special needs. This is support for the elderly, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, children deprived of parental care for various reasons – indicates Marlena Maląg, Minister of Family and Social Policy.

Grants for local governments

On Wednesday, agreements with representatives of local governments were signed at the seat of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. The agreements concern the award of grants as part of the “Development and Pilot Implementation of Social Services Deinstitutionalisation Mechanisms and Plans” project implemented under the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development 2014-2020.

The meeting with local government officials was also attended by Deputy Minister Stanisław Szwed and MPs.

The proposals submitted in response to the grant competition showed the multitude of local government units’ ideas to implement actions aimed at developing social community services that are most friendly to people who need support in everyday life – says Minister Maląg. And she adds: Seeing the importance of social services development, we have allocated over PLN 32 million for the implementation of projects covered by the grants.

What will these funds be used for?

The support to be provided under the grants includes development of assistance services, neighbourhood services, respite care, increased availability of transport services, providing assisted and training housing.  But not only – it is also, for example, establishing and running a creativity zone for dependent people, in particular those with intellectual disabilities, a pilot support programme for people experiencing homelessness or the development of family foster care.

As Minister Marlena Maląg points out, all these actions are in line with the Strategy for the Development of Social Services, adopted by the Council of Ministers in August this year. These services will also contribute to the development of nationwide guidelines for deinstitutionalization of social services.