USAID/Armenia Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project
Implemented by The Services Group (TSG)
18 Baghramian Ave. (entrance from Zarubyan)
Yerevan 0019 Armenia
Tel: (37410) 542 611, 542 811, 545 292, 545 296
RA MINISTRY OF LABOR & SOCIAL ISSUES
SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING PROJECT
SPSS Press Release # 6
Yerevan, Armenia – August 24, 2007
GROUNDBREAKING SEMINAR-WORKSHOP PROMOTES EXPANDED ACCESS TO SOCIAL
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
08/24/07-11:00 AM, Yerevan: An unprecedented seminar-workshop
promoting expanded social services for the elderly and persons with
disabilities concludes in Yerevan today, on August 24. The three-day
event has brought together over 100 social workers from 11 marzes, the
RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, and experts representing USAID
Armenia’s Social Protection Systems Strengthening (SPSS) Project.
Titled "Increasing Accessibility of Services Provided to the Elderly
and Persons with Disabilities," the seminar-workshop has hosted social
workers from marzpetarans, city halls, and regional social-service
agencies throughout Armenia. It focuses on developing local capacity
to understand, address, and implement the provisions of the RA
Governmental Decree N 453 on "Approving the process of providing
prosthetic-orthopedic devices, rehabilitation technology, and other
aid devices; approving the expiration dates of prosthetic-orthopedic,
rehabilitation, and other aid devices; and recognizing the lapsed
Governmental Decree N 1780 of December 24th."
The Decree, in force since April 2007, allows the elderly and persons
with disabilities to obtain social-service referral for eligibility to
receive prosthetic-orthopedic devices for free locally rather than
requiring them to travel to Yerevan to acquire the referral directly
from the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues. By enabling the elderly
and persons with disabilities to receive needed social assistance
directly from their local social-service agency, and also to have
immediate access to vital information, the new decree considerably
improves the quality, accessibility, and speed of aid delivered
locally to these vulnerable groups. These decrees are another next
step of government social policy: to develop community based social
services and social care and to increase responsibility and decision
making capacity of local community social agencies.
"Within the new framework of social-service delivery, the elderly and
persons with disabilities now have the legally enshrined right to
receive guidance locally in the process of obtaining vital
assistance," said Mrs. Carmen Petrosyan, Head of the Division of
Issues of the Disabled at the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues.
Also participating in the seminar-workshop was Mrs. Hripsime
Kirakosyan, Director of the Mission Armenia NGO, a local advocacy
group that provides a wide range of social services and home care to
the elderly, refugees, and other vulnerable groups. In her speech,
Mrs. Kirakosyan emphasized the importance of providing individualized
attention to vulnerable groups and the urgency of developing
community-based social services across the republic.
# # #
From 2007 to 2011 the USAID Armenia SPSS initiative, implemented by
The Services Group (TSG), will guide the second phase of Armenia’s
social-sector reforms. The project aims to strengthen the republic’s
social protection systems, improve the Armenian Government’s
institutional and human capacities, and enhance the capacities of
social-service NGOs. The project offers international and Armenian
technical assistance in four key social protection areas and aims to
facilitate the transition to self-reliance and sustainability while
reducing citizens’ dependence on public support to meet their basic
needs.
For more information, please, contact:
— — — — — —
Zara Sargsyan
Training & Communications Specialist
USAID/Armenia Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project
Implemented by The Services Group (TSG)
18 Baghramian Ave. (entrance from Zarubyan)
Yerevan 0019 Armenia
Tel: (37410) 542 611, 542 811, 545 292, 545 296
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress