The Council of the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) has approved three additional projects under the latest thematic project selection round of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) measure “Support for New Approaches to the Provision of Community-Based Social Services”. This brings the total number of social innovation projects receiving support for the development of community-based social services to 33.
The Latvian Association of Midwives (Latvijas Vecmāšu asociācija) – “A Safe Space for Health Conversations”
The project will develop, pilot and evaluate a community-based social rehabilitation service aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health among children and young people in Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale.
Each region will have a permanent consultation centre, complemented by regular outreach visits to out-of-family care institutions, crisis centres and youth homes. At least 150 young people will participate in the 15-month pilot phase. An individual support plan will be developed for each participant, with at least 600 consultations provided and at least 30 social work professionals trained.
Drošā vide Ltd – “A Safe Environment in Rural Areas: A Hybrid Home-Based Social Care Service for Older People and Persons with Disabilities in Remote Rural Areas”
As part of the project, remote monitoring systems will be installed in the homes of 25 people from the target group. The systems will combine smartwatches equipped with an SOS function and fall detection, motion, door and environmental sensors, data transmission technology and a care management dashboard. The technology will help identify potential risks at an early stage, prioritise carers' responses and plan in-person visits more effectively, while preserving clients' privacy and independence.
Sociālā aprūpe mājās Ltd – “Integrated Smart Home Care”
The project will combine support from an interdisciplinary team with round-the-clock monitoring using smart sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), helping people live safely in their own homes and reducing the need for premature placement in residential care institutions.
The service will target older people with severe functional impairments, people living with dementia and their family members. Individually tailored smart devices and sensors will be installed in participants' homes without the use of video surveillance. The project aims to improve older people's safety and functional abilities while reducing the stress experienced by family members providing care.
As previously reported, on 5 November 2024, the Society Integration Foundation launched an open call for social innovation projects aimed at promoting innovation in the social services sector and supporting the development of modern, person-centred, community-based services throughout Latvia.
The evaluation committee paid particular attention to whether the proposed initiatives qualified as social services and could be considered social innovations – in other words, whether they introduced new approaches that had not previously been used to address societal needs.
The evaluation committee consisted of five members: two representatives of the Ministry of Welfare, two representatives of non-governmental organisations and one representative of the social services sector.
In total, 33 social innovation project implementers will receive support to develop community-based social services.
