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Inspiring policies and practices in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)

The ECI Greece project is hosting a workshop on inspiring policies and practices in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) across Europe.

 

Register by clicking here!

In the framework of the ECI Greece project, we will be hosting an awareness-raising workshop focusing on inspiring practices of Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) from across Europe. It will be held on February 23rd from 18:00 - 19:30 Athens time/ 17:00 - 18:30 CET.

The workshop will begin with an update on the project's state of play. We will look discuss the creation of a booklet on good practices on ECI from service providers that support children with disabilities and their families, and on the process leading to the drafting of an Action Plan. 

We will then investigate the Portuguese ECI system, one of the most developed ones in Europe. It started as a “bottom-up” process in the 1980s, through the development of practices that focused on home-based, and family-centred features to build a holistic ECI system. Portuguese policymakers became increasingly aware of these practices and adopted legislation in 1999 and 2009 that helped to establish a Portuguese National Early Childhood Intervention System.

After Portugal, we will move to Bulgaria and learn about Karin Dom, an ECI service based in Varna, that provides a variety of services to children and families as well as training for other NGOs. Similarly to Portugal, such practices are influencing legislation in Bulgaria. The country is now going through a reform process on early childhood which includes ECI.

The aim of this workshop will be to reflect together on how the lessons learned in these two European Countries can be of inspiration for Greek practitioners, policymakers, and citizens. 

The workship is organised by EASPD in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support. 

Interpretation between Greek and English will be provided.

Register by clicking here!

 

Agenda 

17:00 - 17:15 CET

18:00 - 18:15 EET

 

Welcome and introduction to the workshop 

  • Dorina Giouroukou, European Commission (DG REFORM)
  • Dimitra Nikou, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
  • Maya Doneva, Secretary General, EASPD
 

17:15 - 17:30 CET

18:15 - 18:30 EET

ECI Greece project: collection of good practices

  • Vasilis Kalopsis, ECI Greece Local Coordinator, EASPD
 

17:30 - 18:00 CET

18:30 - 19:00 EET

The Portugese system of community-based ECI

  • Chair: Irene Bertana, ECI Greece Project Manager, EASPD
  • Miguel Valles, General Director, CECD - Cooperativa para a Inclusão Mira Sintra
  • Teresa Nunes Marques, Great Lisbon Commissioner of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and Social Security
 

18:00 - 18:25 CET

19:00 - 19:25 EET

Bulgaria from practices to policies

  • Chair: Maya Doneva, Secretary General, EASPD
  • Nikoleta Yoncheva, auditory-speech rehabilitator and trainer, Karin Dom
  • Denitsa Sacheva, Bulgarian Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy
 

18:25 - 18:30 CET

19:25 - 19:30 EET

Conclusions and next steps

The “Technical Support to implement reforms to support the development of family-centred early childhood intervention services in Greece” project – (otherwise known as ECI Greece) runs from September 2021 to September 2023. It is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and is implemented by the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) in cooperation with the Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission and counts on the continued cooperation and support of national and international stakeholders.

Funding and Disclaimer

Grant agreement number: n.101048313. This project is funded by the European Union's Technical Support Instrument and implemented in co-operation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support.

The information and views set out in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this article. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained therein.