The Council of the Society Integration Foundation (SIF), in the penultimate project selection round, has approved five new projects under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) measure “Support for New Approaches in the Provision of Community-Based Social Services.” As a result, a total of 22 social innovation projects will now receive support for the development of community-based social services.
The five projects approved today will provide services to 230 target group beneficiaries. Altogether, the 22 approved social innovation projects envisage piloting community-based social services for at least 12 months, with a total of 873 target group beneficiaries expected to receive services. The majority of projects focus on social rehabilitation (82%), while the remaining projects develop social care (14%) and social work (4%) services.
At the same time, the final idea selection round has concluded, with 21 project ideas approved. Applicants whose ideas have been approved are invited to submit full project applications and compete for financial support. The high number of project ideas demonstrates strong interest and readiness among organisations to develop new, modern and community-based social service solutions for vulnerable groups.
“Social innovation in Latvia has strong potential. Organisations are increasingly offering solutions that are closer to people’s everyday lives – mobile, flexible and community-based services. Our task is to provide real opportunities to implement these ideas in practice so that, in the future, they become accessible and sustainable support for everyone, across as many regions of Latvia as possible,” emphasises Alda Sebre, Director of the Social Cohesion Department at the Society Integration Foundation.
The approved social innovation projects provide for:
mobile social rehabilitation and psychosocial support services for young people with limited access to services;
community-based support for children with autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on support in their natural environment;
комплекс social rehabilitation and day care services for children and young people with functional impairments, using digital and technological solutions;
reintegration support solutions for persons with addictions, mental health disorders and those released from imprisonment;
innovative long-term psychosocial rehabilitation services for families who have experienced the loss of a child.
The selection of social innovations takes place in two stages. In the first stage, social innovation ideas are assessed, including a description of the problem and the proposed social service solution. If an idea is deemed eligible, applicants are invited to develop and submit a full project application.
The evaluation committee pays particular attention to whether the submitted idea constitutes a social service and qualifies as a social innovation — that is, a new and previously unused approach to addressing societal needs. The evaluation committee consists of five members: two representatives from the Ministry of Welfare, two representatives from non-governmental organisations, and one representative from the field of social services.
The aim of the measure is to promote social innovation in the field of social services by supporting the development of modern, needs-based and community-based services throughout Latvia.
Up-to-date information on the selection process is available on the SIF website. For further inquiries, please contact inovacija@sif.gov.lv.
This information has been prepared by the Society Integration Foundation within the framework of the ESF+ co-financed project No. 4.4.1.1./1/24/I/001 “Support for New Approaches in the Provision of Community-Based Social Services.” The Society Integration Foundation is responsible for the content of this information.
Additional information:
Sabīne Leingarde
Society Integration Foundation
Public Relations Specialist
Email: sabine.leingarde@sif.gov.lv
Phone: +371 28355507
