Project idea
The goal of the project is to develop and disseminate a model for supporting adults with mental disabilities who have lived in closed institutions. This will involve creating a methodological guide for organizing supported living (SL) for people with such experiences; enhancing the existing online course for social workers beginning their work in SL projects; conducting internships for staff from small NGOs interested in implementing SL projects; and further expanding the foundation’s SL program to increase the number of individuals transitioning out of closed institutions.
The implementation of the project will enable: increasing the competence of NGOs in organizing SL projects for individuals with experience living in closed institutions; expanding opportunities for support and accompaniment for people with mental disabilities who wish to leave closed institutions; creating a precedent for a large-scale SL program that could serve as a foundation for developing a state-supported SL system; and gaining valuable experience in coordinating and establishing SL programs, which will be essential for transitioning from an institutional model for people with disabilities to an SL model.
Relevance
Despite closed institutions remaining the primary form of state support for people with mental disabilities, public organizations and the expert community have long agreed that every individual is capable of living in an open society. This is also confirmed by global experience. In recent years, this consensus has begun to spread to the state.
According to a study conducted in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 20% of people living in residential facilities could live independently with up to 4 hours of assistance a week.
With increased support, up to 56% of residential facility residents could live independently.
In 2023, a new form of social service for people with disabilities appeared in Russia: supported living. Experts believe that at least 216,000 people could transition from residential care homes to supported living apartments. However, in 2022, only about 20% of potential clients were covered by the services.
To develop the supported living system across Russia, specialists well-versed in this field are needed. But currently, many projects are organized spontaneously, without relying on professional standards or methodological guidelines, and staff often have to make decisions on the fly. There is a need for mass training of staff and project leaders in supported living, as well as for sharing the experiences of successful organizations.
Social effect
Increasing the number of specialists preparing people with mental disabilities for independent living. Development, description, and dissemination of a supported living model for people who previously lived in residential care homes.
KPI
KPI
Project Results
As a result of the project implementation, 21 adults with mental disabilities were able to significantly improve their living situation and conditions. All these individuals, who previously lived in institutional care facilities, were housed in the foundation’s supported living apartments and received assistance from social workers. The staff helped participants address areas of their lives where they lacked necessary skills and faced challenges. Participants regularly visited doctors and followed their prescriptions, engaged in productive activities within the foundation’s programs or worked in the open labor market, maintained social connections, and strived to regulate their psycho-emotional state.
The supported living program was expanded. During the project, five new participants joined the program, moving from social homes and successfully adapting. 4 of the new participants are legally incapacitated, and guardians were found for them to facilitate their transition from institutions. This is an important precedent that expanded the criteria for including individuals in our foundation’s supported living program. Additionally, two new participants have more pronounced disorders and behavioral characteristics than all the individuals previously accepted into the program. Despite the difficulties, they also successfully stayed in apartments, receiving assistance from the most experienced social workers.
Regular group supervisions of program staff with a psychologist were conducted. According to the survey results, such meetings helped the largest number of employees cope with difficulties arising in the course of their work. During the supervisions, staff discussed conflictual and ambiguous situations, which were often caused by the clients' difficult previous experiences, and developed a common work strategy. A high standard of social services was ensured.
Internships were held for five support specialists involved in the development of supported living projects in various regions of Russia. Over three days of familiarization with the foundation and its programs, each intern received extensive information about the organization of supported living, the application of a person-centered approach and case management, the involvement of adults with disabilities in employment, and other aspects of the work. Our guests interacted with various specialists and clients of the foundation, visited supported living apartments, and integrative workshops. Thus, the project contributed to the development of supported living practices across the country.
A methodological guide on post-institutional support for adults with mental disabilities within the framework of supported living projects was published. Additionally, the online course for social workers whose activities are related to our beneficiary audience has been supplemented and updated.
These educational products received numerous high ratings from specialists who have used them, who already rely on them in their work and will be able to continue doing so in the future. Thus, assistance was provided to enhance the competencies of helping professionals.
Project progress after CSS funding
The foundation’s team will diversify the foundation’s budget and seek funding from the following sources:
The “Otradnoye” Supported Living Project will be funded through reimbursements to the foundation as a provider of social services, private and corporate donations, as well as grant competitions.
Routing and Case Management System is funded until the end of 2024 thanks to winning the PGF competition with the project “Route Built.”
Updating Released Educational Materials is planned in such a way that it does not require significant expenses or can be carried out by the team without additional funding. Additional educational tools are provided in the “Route Built” project.
On-site Internship Program can become a permanent feature with the support of a major partner (business or the Department of Labor and Social Protection of Moscow).
