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project info
Start date: 1 September 2020
End date: 31 December 2022
funding
Fund: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Total budget: 705 810,00 €
EU contribution: 599 938,50 € (85%)
programme
Programming period: 2014-2020
Managing authority: The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia
European Commission Topic

Social inclusion of vulnerable groups in Zarasai-Daugavpils cross-border region through development of integrated social care network

Social services in Lithuania and Latvia tend to be provided to people who already experience hardships. The new approach suggests that applying timely integrated measures of social inclusion to vulnerable groups can prevent them. Special attention should be paid to elderly people – a vulnerable group whose needs were neglected for decades. With reformation of residential institutions like children‘s homes in Latvia and Lithuania, capacities of employees can be retained and incorporated into the new emerging system while the vacated facilities should be given a new purpose. The overall objective of the project is to develop a new integrated social care network which will increase accessibility and efficiency of social services in cross-border region Zarasai-Daugavpils. In the frame of the project it is planned to explore and evaluate social care infrastructure in Zarasai district and Daugavpils city to capitalise on everyone’s strengths and find ways for budget institutions and non-governmental organizations to supplement each other. With the purpose of motivating and inspiring social workers (90), they will receive qualification training, observe best social inclusion practices in Latvia and Lithuania, and participate in a study visit to Poland and Czech Republic. In both municipalities an assortment of new social inclusion measures will be introduced and innovative services will be provided (800 users). A part of former children’s home building in Antazave will be renovated and adapted for a new purpose – organisation of social camps and temporary stay for vulnerable groups. 4 pilot social camps will be organised (120 people) where social inclusion practices will be introduced. Project partners will use each others experiences and capacities, and applying innovative measures will create integrated social care network that will become a resource of territorial development in the future.

Flag of Lithuania,Latvia  Multiple locations, Lithuania, Latvia