Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Contribution of NGOs to employment and social inclusion

in the Czech Republic

Pavel Novák SKOK

The Association of NGOs Active in the Areas of Social Assistance and Social Health

CareCzech Republic

SKOK - The Association of NGOs Active in the Areas of Social Assistance and Social Health Care

Association of membership organizations, originally a free platform

Networking between members and other organizations in social area

Advocacy of interests and rights of both providers and users of social and health social services – public interest – influencing social policy

Developing new forms of humanitarian assistance and social and health social services

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Historical background of NGOs in the Czech Republic

Civil society has a long tradition - since the 19th century This tradition was interrupted by the Nazi occupation

(1938 – 1945) and the communist regime (1948 – 1989) After the Velvet Revolution (1989), thousands of new

NGOs came into existence in reaction to newly-experienced needs

In 2008 - cca 3 000 social NGOs Services for 1/3 of all users (675 000) 14 000 workers, out of which 10 400 work in direct care

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

NGO values

Democracy in decision making Respect for human rights, individuality Independence Flexibility and creativity Emphasize on public interest Transparency and openness

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

European social model Subsidiarity Holistic approach Transparency and openness User friendly services Efficiency Solidarity and partnership Dignity and human rights Participation Empowering and personal growth Continuing improvement and sustainability

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

NGO added value Individual support stemming from the principal of

respect Creation of networks – plurality, inspiration, energy Ability to improvise born of uncertainty and

instability Skill to search for or create economic sources Connecting theory with practice Emphasis on achieving goals and focusing on

meaning Approaching the public with important topics of

social policy

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Example of NGO added valueWorking with marginalized groupsPeople without shelter, Roma or other ethnic groups, refugees and

migrants, people living in poverty, people with serious stigma (HIV positive, drug addicts, mentally ill, …)

Field programsCross-sector and cross-field cooperationPublic policyPublicity

Photo source: http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2.php?id=254&id_gallery=30http://www.khamoro.cz/index.php?id=foto&detail=39

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Example of NGO added valueHuman rights advocacyReducing of the restrictions in the social services

by Social Service Act Individual

approach based services

Training and education for workers

Publicity

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Foto zdroj: http://aktualne.centrum.cz/zahranici/evropa/clanek.phtml?id=518667

Example of NGO added value

Employment – social economyNGO changes the paradigm for the “barely employable

persons” New models of employing people disadvantaged in the labor market – social enetprises

Supported employment

Photo source: http://www.socialnifirmy.cz/getdoc.php?id=500&sessid=1efa1a6008fbbc5f8590d1f349fd4d89http://www.cafe-therapy.cz/galerie/center1.jpg

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Example of NGO added value

Quality of social services Initiation of creation of social services quality

standards, their implementation Educational programs Delivery of tools for improving quality

! Threat:Inspections evaluating adherence to quality

standards are focusing on formal criteria fulfillment

The tool is becoming a goal!

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Example of NGO added value

Community planning NGOs as conveyors of the idea of community

planning NGOs actively involve users, providers and the

public in social services planning

! Threat:By putting the emphasis on the process of

administration, the main principal – the principal of participation - is disappearing.

The tool is becoming a goal!

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Example of NGO added valueTransformation of social services – de-

institutionalization as a necessity NGOs create variable community based services NGOs bring experience from abroad - education Cooperation on projects of change underway

! Threat:

Transformation understood only as humanization of current institutions, not as integration of users into a normal life in the community

The main principal of social inclusion is disappearing

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

NGOs create a civil society and strengthen social coherence, create a pathway to democracy

… even though it often appears like walking a tightrope

Let us not allow NGOs to become a

threatened species; the important added value

they bring to society would be lost.

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

Thank you for your attention

SKOKSenovážné náměstí 2/994

110 00 Praha 1

www.skok.bizskok@skok.biz

Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence