engleski

Social work in the development of non- institutional care for people with mental health conditions: the case of Croatia

People with mental health conditions are vulnerable group which is often exposed to stigma, prejudice, social isolation and institutionalization. The right to live in the community is one of basic human rights, and by ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other important strategic EU documents. Croatia has obligation to enable that right to all its citizens. By making the „Plan for the deinstitutionalization and transformation of social welfare institutions and other legal entities providing social welfare activities in the Republic of Croatia for the period from 2011 to 2018.“, and by adjustment of the existent legislative, a legal framework for starting the process of development of non-institutional care has been created. The paper will show development process of non-institutional care for people with mental health conditions and place and role of social work in that process. In this complex process, which faces major challenges, social workers take over the whole range of different roles, from preparing the users for life in the community, over participating in development of the network of community services to advocating for rights of this specific population of service users. Also, paper will present results of research from the user´s perspective who highlights the importance of a supported independent living in the community and the role of social workers in the process. It has been shown that users see social workers as key experts in the process of empowerment for independent living and as providers of support during their life in community housing.

deinstitutialization in Croatia, people with mental health conditions, living in the community, social work

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