1. Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence Contribution of NGOs to employment and social inclusion in the Czech Republic Pavel Novák SKOK The Association of NGOs Active in the Areas of Social Assistance and Social Health Care Czech Republic

2. SKOK - The Association of NGOs Active in the Areas of Social Assistance and Social Health Care Association of membership organizations, originally a free platform Networking between members and other organizations in social area Advocacy of interests and rights of both providers and users of social and health social services – public interest – influencing social policy Developing new forms of humanitarian assistance and social and health social services Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

4. Historical background of NGOs in the Czech Republic  Civil society has a long tradition - since the 19 th century  This tradition was interrupted by the Nazi occupation (1938 – 1945) and the communist regime (1948 – 1989)  After the Velvet Revolution (1989), thousands of new NGOs came into existence in reaction to newly- experienced needs  In 2008 - cca 3 000 social NGOs  Services for 1/3 of all users (675 000)  14 000 workers, out of which 10 400 work in direct care Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

5. NGO values Democracy in decision making Respect for human rights, individuality Independence Flexibility and creativity Emphasize on public interest Transparency and openness Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

6. European social model Subsidiarity Holistic approach Transparency and openness User friendly services Efficiency Solidarity and partnership Dignity and human rights Participation Empowering and personal growth Continuing improvement and sustainability Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

7. NGO added value Individual support stemming from the principal of respect Creation of networks – plurality, inspiration, energy Ability to improvise born of uncertainty and instability Skill to search for or create economic sources Connecting theory with practice Emphasis on achieving goals and focusing on meaning Approaching the public with important topics of social policy Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

8. Example of NGO added value Working with marginalized groups People without shelter, Roma or other ethnic groups, refugees and migrants, people living in poverty, people with serious stigma (HIV positive, drug addicts, mentally ill, …) Field programs Cross-sector and cross-field cooperation Public policy Publicity Photo source: http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2.php?id=254&id_gallery=30 http://www.khamoro.cz/index.php?id=foto&detail=39 Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

9. Example of NGO added value Human rights advocacy Reducing of the restrictions in the social services by Social Service Act Individual approach based services T raining and education for workers Publicity Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence Foto zdroj: http://aktualne.centrum.cz/zahranici/evropa/clanek.phtml?id=518667

10. Example of NGO added value Employment – social economy NGO changes the paradigm for the “barely employable persons” New models of employing people disadvantaged in the labor market – social enetprises Supported employment Photo source: http://www.socialnifirmy.cz/getdoc.php?id=500&sessid=1efa1a 6008fbbc5f8590d1f349fd4d89 http://www.cafe-therapy.cz/galerie/center1.jpg Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

11. Example of NGO added value Quality of social services Initiation of creation of social services quality standards, their implementation Educational programs Delivery of tools for improving quality ! Threat: Inspections evaluating adherence to quality standards are focusing on formal criteria fulfillment The tool is becoming a goal! Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

12. Example of NGO added value Community planning NGOs as conveyors of the idea of community planning NGOs actively involve users, providers and the public in social services planning ! Threat : By putting the emphasis on the process of administration, the main principal – the principal of participation - is disappearing. The tool is becoming a goal ! Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

13. Example of NGO added value Transformation of social services – de- institutionalization as a necessity NGOs create variable community based services NGOs bring experience from abroad - education Cooperation on projects of change underway ! Threat : Transformation understood only as humanization of current institutions, not as integration of users into a normal life in the community The main principal of social inclusion is disappearing Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

14. NGOs create a civil society and strengthen social coherence, create a pathway to democracy … even though it often appears like walking a tightrope Let us not allow NGOs to become a threatened species; the important added value they bring to society would be lost. Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence

15. Thank you for your attention SKOK Senovážné náměstí 2/994 110 00 Praha 1 www.skok.biz skok@skok.biz Social services – a tool for mobilizing the work force and strengthening social coherence