The NGO ‘League of the Strong’ presented an analytical study ‘Legislative Barriers to Regulation of the Service Provision Sector on the Eve of Deinstitutionalisation’, prepared with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The analysis focuses on the current Ukrainian legislation related to the provision of social services, including supported living, which is a key tool in the deinstitutionalisation reform.
The purpose of the study is to identify systemic problems that hinder the implementation of a modern, humane and effective model of support for people with disabilities and other vulnerable categories in communities, instead of keeping them in residential institutions.
Analysts have identified five key issues that hinder the development of assisted living services in Ukraine:
Unclear regulatory definition. The current legislation lacks a single unified definition of assisted living services. This leads to differences in the interpretation of regulations and their application in the regions.
Financial uncertainty. The state does not allocate separate budget funding for this service, which limits its accessibility, and local governments have no incentive to develop it.
Lack of interagency coordination. Cooperation between the Ministries of Health, Social Protection and Education remains fragmented. The lack of a unified approach prevents comprehensive support for service recipients.
Focus on residential facilities. Legislation still focuses on institutional forms of care – large residential facilities – instead of creating conditions for independent living in the community.
Problems with licensing and standards. Ukraine lacks clear quality standards for assisted living services and requirements for its providers. This leads to uncertainty in the implementation and quality control of services.
What is needed to improve the situation? Ihor Bevkh, legal advisor and analyst at the League of the Strong, believes that coordination should be systematic: each actor involved – from government agencies to local executives – should have clear responsibilities, deadlines and a common vision of the goal. This is the only way to get the reform off the ground.
“I want to live in a society that will take responsibility for me if I find myself in a difficult situation. A community that does not isolate but supports me is a society in which I am ready to invest my labour and taxes. If we all realise this, the deinstitutionalisation reform will gain real meaning,” said Liubov Solodukhina, a child rights expert at the Social Synergy NGO.
Kyrylo Nevdokha, head of the DIYMO Office for Children and Youth, points to the need for changes at the legislative level.
“We need to adopt high-quality regulations, preferably laws. Because now any government resolution can be changed with the arrival of new ministers. In addition, it’s time to stop treating people with disabilities as objects of charity. They are citizens with equal rights, and there are more than two million of them. Funding for their support should be transparent and coordinated,” he stressed.
The results of the analytical study are primarily addressed to representatives of public authorities, legislators, experts, the public sector, and all those working in the field of support for people with disabilities. They can serve as a basis for the development of new policies and the creation of a real mechanism for the transition to a community-based model of living.
The project was implemented within the framework of the initiative ‘Deinstitutionalisation is possible (DIM)’ with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. It is organised by the League of the Strong NGO, which unites the efforts of experts, activists, professionals and communities promoting deinstitutionalisation reform in Ukraine.
Source: UCMC
