On 7 June this year the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on the adoption of a public policy called Strategy for the Development of Social Services, Public Policy until 2030 (with a perspective until 2035).

Deinstitutionalisation of support

The main objective of the Strategy for the Development of Social Services is deinstitutionalisation, i.e. transition from institutional care to care provided in the family environment and local community.

–  Social services are supposed to focus on families and children, the elderly, people with disabilities, but also people with mental disorders or people experiencing homelessness - says Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.

A system for the delivery of social services to people in need of support in their daily life will be prepared.

– We want them to be able to live safely and independently in their place of residence for as long as they wish. On the other hand, children deprived of parental care are to be provided with care in family conditions or as close to them as possible - adds Minister Maląg.

Key points of the strategy

The most important objectives of the Strategy for the Development of Social Services include:

• Increasing the participation of families and family forms of foster care in the care and upbringing of children.
• Building an effective and sustainable system of providing social services for persons in need of support in everyday functioning.
• Social inclusion of people with disabilities giving them the opportunity to live in the community regardless of the degree of disability.
• Creation of an effective system of social services for people with mental disorders.
• Creation of an effective support system for people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness.

The strategy assumes broad cooperation of the government administration with local governments and the non-governmental sector.