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Conference on deinstitutionalization process for children and adults with mental health problems in post Soviet Region

On July 17th and 18th in Sofia, Bulgaria took place an international conference on deinstitutionalization process for children and adults with mental health problems in post Soviet Region. The conference was attended by more than 80 specialist from 15 countries: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and was organised withing  withing Open Society’s East East: Parnership Beyond Borders Program.

Speakers on the conference were:

  • Georgi Bogdanov – Chairman of the NNC.
  • Konstantin Penchev – Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria.
  • Kalin Kamenov – Chairman of the State Agency for Child Protection Council of Ministers.
  • Darinka Yankova – State Agency for Child Protection.
  • Anita Manolova – social agency support – policies of deinstitutionalization for children and adults with mental health problems.
  • Boyan Zahariev – “Open Society Institute” – presentation of summary data for participating countries.
  • Miriam Dialo – Regional Attaché of Foreign Affairs of France for children in Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova
  • Holly Hicks-Small – Senior expert in early childhood development – Open Society London
  • Deyana Kostadinova – Secretary to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
  • Anita Manolova – social agency support – policies of deinstitutionalization for children and adults with mental health problems.
  • Lindsay Saltsgiver from Foundation “Cedar”– sharing experience of closing down an institution for children with mental retardation.
  • Valentina Hristakieva – Global Initiative on Psychiatry – reforms in the eyes of civil society organizations.
  • Janina Arsenieva– Eurochild Brussels

Bulgaria shared best practices from:

Kyustendil – Foundation “Cedar”
Dalbok dol – Society for all
Pazardzhik – Association “Chovekolubie”
Sofia – “For Our Children” and the Global Initiative on Psychiatry – Sofia

The main result of the conference, regardless the created opportunities and links between specialists are the two following documents: a contry report and feedback table on DI:

FROM LIVING IN COMMUNISM TO COMMUNITY LIVING – WHAT IS COMMON in the deinstitutionalization process for children and adults with mental health problems in post Soviet Region?

Feedback table document summarizing quality data information on the ‘Philosophy’ of the system of services for people with mental disabilities, the policies related to the system of services for people with mental disabilities and the role of NGOs

Photo: narubg.org

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