Challenges of Deinstitutionalization of Child Care System in Lithuania

The reform of child care system in Lithuania started by approving Strategic guidelines for deinstitutionalization (2012) and Transition from institutional care to community-based services (2014). The strategic aim of the reform is to create system of a comprehensive range of services that enable every child and families (guardians) to receive individual services according to their needs and necessary assistance in the community. The process of transformation of institutional care is designed in two steps: creation of the necessary conditions for the transformation (2014-2017) and development of infrastructure in the regions 2017-2020 (2023).

The goal of the presentation is to discuss the process of the first step of the deinstitutionalization and to find out how the specific aims are met, e. g. evaluating individual needs; determining motivation, the need for a new knowledge and skills of the staff; developing individual care plan, institution`s plan for the transition, regional plan of services and infrastructure; preparing methodological basis for a new type of the services (methodological documents, legislation); informing and educating public, social marketing.

The analysis shows that not all provisions of legislation are implemented thus hindering the process and urgent actions should be taken in order to implement foreseen social policy measures.