donateWe, TEPAT un KOPĀ, are an association representing families with children and young people with functional disabilities from the neighborhood of Ikšķile. Since the foundation of the association, the boundaries of the county have changed. We are aware that regional social policy issues are evaluated within the boundaries of the new region, therefore, when planning activities, it is essential for the association to understand the general social situation of the region, to identify what is common and unique with other regional associations, as well as to identify the necessary changes and strategy for influencing the social policy of the region.
Therefore, we identified the NGO, which in the region represents families with children and young people with functional disabilities, and invited them to a joint meeting. We were very happy that the chairman of the board of the association "Vecāki kopā" Agita Šulca (Ogre), the chairman of the board of the association "Esi radošs!" Dace Voitkeviča (Ogre), the chairman of the board of FOUNDATION CULTURE AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION "UPE" Alise Rasa Lapiņa (Lielvārde) responded to our invitation to meet. Association TEPAT and KOPĀ were represented by the chairman of the board Madara Kukaine (Ikšķile) and Dace Ikauniece (Ikšķile). Unfortunately, it was not possible to find any NGO from Ķegums, which would have united or represented families with children and young people with functional disabilities.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce oneself, get to know other associations, learn about the availability of social services in Ogre and Lielvārde, identify common needs and agree on joint action to solve the social issues of the region. The planned three hours passed without noticing. Although each NGO has its own and different story, its own experience, the availability of services in each place is different, we are all united by concern for the availability of quality social services for children, for education today and employment tomorrow. More questions than answers during the conversation.
The first common issue that affects and worries all of us in the region is the implementation of the project "Development of service infrastructure for the implementation of deinstitutionalization plans in Ogre region", where it is planned:
- to create a social rehabilitation service infrastructure for 63 children with functional disabilities in Ogre region - Suntažu iela 2, Ogre;
- to create the service infrastructure of a day care center with 10 places, a total of 20 children with functional disabilities in Ogre district - Suntažu iela 2, Ogre;
- to create a group apartment service infrastructure (with 24-hour staff support) with 10 places, a total of 10 persons with mental disorders in Ogre district - Suntažu iela 2, Ogre;
- to create a "moment of respite" service infrastructure with 3 places, a total of 12 persons with mental disorders in Ogre district - Suntažu iela 2, Ogre.
Within the project, 11 community-based social service places for children with functional disabilities will also be created, as well as the number of created and/or improved places for providing community-based services for persons with mental disabilities – 49 places.
There are concerns about the availability of the service for all children with functional disabilities in the county from two aspects - the real number of children in the county and how children from more remote areas of the county will be able to receive the service. We agreed that it is necessary to meet with the representatives of the municipality of Ogre region and explain the planned service implementation and realization plan (since the planned end date of the project implementation was April 2022), as well as the availability of services outside the center of Ogre region.
Despite all the painful issues we discussed, it was a real pleasure to meet everyone. We very much hope and undertake to cooperate so that families with children and young people with functional disabilities can not only be, but also feel like equal members of society in Ogre county.
