workshopMore than 40 representatives of the residential institutions included in the project and representatives from institutions of social and healthcare attended at the two-day workshop “Initiation of development plans” held in Belgrade on 27 – 28 March, 2014.
Workshop aimed to support the residential institutions during planning of comprehensive development plans for deinstitutionalization (DI).

 

Dr Monika Gabanyi, project Team leader welcomed the participants and stressed that project will provide support to all RI during DI. In this regard, the project prepared the software solution that will facilitate planning for residential institutions and community-based services.
The software solution was presented by Mr. Milutin Cvetkovic, IT Expert enrolled in software development. He explained it is not an IT system; it’s a program to assist each of RI to easily access to customer data, using independent applications based on web technology. The software solution is beeing developed in cooperation with Centre for persons with mental disabilities, RI from Jabuka, Pancevo.
 
Dr. Ljiljana Bognic, Director of RI from Novi Becej presented example of DI of the Centre of mentally ill persons in Osijek, Croatia. She explained that Centre is a model of successfully implemented deinstitutionalization. Employees of RI from Novi Becej had a chance to exchange experiences with colleagues from Osijek for future planning of transformation.
 
Following the workshop, George Bolton, an expert on the project presented planning process of de-institutionalization and pointed out the key elements of comprehensive development plans relating to individuals and their families, the facilities in which services are provided, as well as the service itself. Bolton also presented figures and ways of funding of social and health care in Serbia.
In the afternoon session of the workshop, participants worked in groups on planning and modelling of transformation led by Dr. Jan Pfeiffer, project Key expert.
 
On the second day of the workshop participants discussed a methodology of individual planning. Presentations were made by Prof. Dr. Vito Flacker and Prof. Dr. Miroslav Brkic, experts on the project.
It was concluded that the workshop was very useful. Participants will exchange experiences and views which will be very helpful during planning of transformation of their residential institutions supported by the Project.