CALCULATING COSTS OF INACTION: PROMOTING THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT APPROACH THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Transcription

1 CALCULATING COSTS OF INACTION: PROMOTING THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT APPROACH THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY GABRIELA SEMPRUCH CENTER FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENTS IN WARSAW, POLAND

2 The social assistance system in Poland basic facts The Calculator Costs of Inaction (CCI) Model as an example of social policy innovation in the region* Discussion *The CCI Model description refers to the materials on the topic, published by the Mazovia Social Policy Center and The Warsaw School of Economics.

3 Population: 38.4 million people Regions (NUTS2): 16 provinces State Government and three levels of Local Government (provinces, districts and communities)

4 Social assistance in Poland is regulated by a Law from the 12 th March 2004 (Law on Social Assistance). The main goal of social assistance is to help those in need to overcome life difficulties and to support them to stay active in the society. Social assistance is organized by units of central and local administration in cooperation with organizations, such as: - foundations - associations - churches - private companies

5 The majority of social assistance services are provided by local government units for social assistance (in districts and communes). They are responsible for the management of cash benefits and above this provide non-financial assistance. NGOs provide services such as e.g.: - shelters for the homeless - homes for single mothers - day-care homes - special consultancy ect.

6 The main units of social assistance are: municipalities and communes Social Assistance Centers districts Poviat Centers for Family Support provinces (Voivodships) Regional Social Policy Centers Apart from this, there are other special social assistance units, such as e.g.: - social assistance houses - care and education centers - support centers

7 The minister responsible for the social security sector (i.e. The Minister of Labour and Social Policy) is responsible for: the concept and strategy of social assistance developing legal regulation in the field of social assistance defining standards of services provided by social assistance organizational units analyzing the effectiveness of the measures taken The province governments are (among others) responsible for: the assessment of conditions and efficiency of social assistance supervising the quality of activities the observation of standards of services provided by the social assistance organizational units in communes and districts

8 According to the law, social assistance is granted to individuals and families, mostly for the following reasons: poverty and unemployment homelessness orphanage mental of physical disabilities and long term illnesses incompetence in family matters alcoholism, drug addictions difficulties in adjusting to life after being discharged from penitentiary institutions

9 Cash benefits permanent benefit periodical benefit purpose benefit Non-financial assistance services in the form of social work care services specialist counseling - mainly legal and psychological help in settling official matters or other key livelihood issues

10 the homeless (assistance in the form of providing shelters, meals, clothes) the unemployed (cash benefits, integration activities) the disabled and dependent people (care services, social assistance homes, cash benefits) the poor (cash benefits) the elderly (care services, social assistance homes, cash benefits) families and children (cash benefits, supplying nutrition for children in schools, family assistant) victims of natural and ecological disasters (purpose benefit)

11 CCI Model was prepared in the framework of an innovative systemic project. It was financed by the European Social Fund*. Implementors: Masovian Social Policy Center, the organisational unit of the regional government - Leader Warsaw School of Economics, the oldest economic university in Poland - Partner Radom Entrepreneurship Centre Association, non-governmental organisation - Partner Period: Main publications about the project: 1. Błędowski P et al.. (2014), Social Calculator a tool of the project The Calculator of Costs of Inaction, Polish Monthly Journal Polityka Społeczna, Thematic Issue no4, Kucharska B., Sempruch G (2014), CCI Model Guide, Mazovia Social Policy Center 3. Sempruch G. (2014), Kalkulator Kosztów Zaniechania a innowacje w polityce społecznej, w: Grewiński M, Karwacki A. (2015), Innowacyjna Polityka Społeczna, WSP Korczak

12 The Calculator of Costs of Inaction Model is a new approach to conduct local and regional social policy, especially in the area of social protection. It is a dynamic innovation toolbox, aimed to implement changes related to the policy framework, which facilitates financial efficiency and effectiveness of social policy activities. These changes are related to the way of perceiving social expenditures change in the point of view - from spending to investment.

13 The CCI Model is a tool for: Local and regional authorities Employees of welfare organizations Non-governmental organization representatives Local communities and beneficiaries

14 Estimating the costs of inaction in relation to social problems (disabilities, unemployment, homeless, poverty, lack of parental care, alcoholism and drug addiction, difficulties in transition to after prison-life) Financial and strategic planning Focus on active social policy Social services development, especially preventive and activating services related to a person-based approach Sharing knowledge on social practices and social innovation Strengthening public participation Supporting local community development through social investment Strengthening the role of public institutions as facilitators of social innovation

15 The CCI Model is a set of social policy instruments classified by the type of resources used. It consists of legal, economic, educational, and human resources instruments. There are four IT and two implementation tools: IT tools: 1. Social Calculator 2. Catalogue of Social Innovation 3. Diffuser of Social Innovation 4. Strategy Generator Implementation Tools: 5. Network of Social Innovation Leaders 6. Training System

16 Basic methodological assumptions: The independence (autonomy) as a new value Three levels of the intensity of social problems The later one gets help, the more expensive it gets The catalogue of social services by social problems (and their intensity) Analyzing costs of inaction and promoting social investment with a 7 year perspective Promoting innovative solutions

17 line of independence in the human life course human life course Source: Kucharska B., Sempruch G (2014), Projekt Kalkulator Kosztów Zaniechania w kontekście regionalnym, Mazowieckie Centrum Polityki Społecznej;

18 * International Labour Organisation, Convention 102 concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security

19 low level of dependence line of independence in the human life course average level of dependence high level of dependence human life course

20 low level of dependence average level of dependence high level of dependence Author: Gabriela Sempruch

21 Source: Sempruch G (2014), Social Innovation and Regional Development, III European School of Social Innovation, The University of the Basque Country life chances

22 RESEARCH Collect data on needs and resources to understand better the social and human capital BEGINNING Sign a letter of intent, Create a team, Choose a leader TRAINING ON THE CCI MODEL work meetings, workshops, study visits abroad, consulting, e-learning DEVELOPING A NETWORK OF SOCIAL INNOVATION LEADERS coaching, workshop, e-learning, study visits abroad, internet forum FORMULATING A STRATEGY local partnership, support, estimate costs of inaction prepare a 7 years social strategy PROMOTING ACTIVE SOCIAL PROJECTS public-social partnership, financial support for activating social projects IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL STRATEGY social projects, social services EVALUATION

23 Implemented since 2012 in the Mazovia Region (over 3 years) Tested in 5 local communities, based on the cooperation with local authorities (representative communes for the Mazovia region) Over 100 local authorities in the Mazovia region was participating in the project. Now new local authorities are interested in the CCI The Social Policy Strategy for the Mazovia Region for the years is based on the CCI approach Regional Social Policy Centers in all other regions in Poland expressed interest in implementing the CCI Model. National institutions expressed interest in developing a new approach in other areas of social policy Institutions from other countries are interested in the CCI Model

24 Main products of the project (2015): 113 people involved in the network of social innovation leaders 25 active social policy strategies approved by the municipal council (according to the Polish law) 304 calculations prepared and published in the Social Calculator 221 social projects in the Catalogue of Social Innovation 702 publications in the Diffuser of Social Innovation Main difficulties: Preparing IT tools suitable for user s needs Communication difficulties the biggest challenge is to change the mindset (the way of thinking in the social protection system)

25 Main results: IT tools as help while planning social budgets; adding arguments in the discussions concerning finances Access to data on good practices, social services and social innovation conducted in other communities or regions IT tools as help while preparing social policy strategies Changing the stereotypical way of perceiving welfare costs from expenses to investments More efficient description and comprehension of the relation of the social protection system with other areas of social policy (health protection, employment, education, etc), which is useful in preparing integrated social services based on a person-centered approach

26 CCI Model conclusions Investing in the independence (autonomy) of citizens Analyzing needs and social services by the intensity of social problems Calculating Costs of Inaction as a tool to support the implementation of social innovation and social investment in the long run Comparing social practices in different countries and learning through contrast Taking into account the specifics of different countries

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28 Thank you Gabriela Sempruch