Report on “Group Homes – A Defensible Investment”
Time and Date: 10am-12pm, 2nd December
Speakers: Steven Allen (Validity Foundation), Jamie Bolling (Independent Living), Ines Bulic Cojocariu (European Network on Independent Living), Dragana Ciric Milovanovic (Disability Rights International), Julie Ward (Socialists & Democrats)
Background:
The event focused on the “Bulgarian Model” – a model of de-institutionalisation promoted around the world. The basis of the model is an 84% reduction in the number of children in institutional care being achieved between 2010 and 2018. While on paper this means that more children are being moved from large institutions to comparatively smaller group homes, the event discusses whether this is an example of de-institutionalisation or not. The event involved 3 presentations by Dragana Ciric Milovanovic, Steven Allen and Jamie Bolling. Ines Bulic Cojacariu moderated the event while Julie Ward as MEP hosted it.
Introduction by Ines Bulic Cojocariu:
The event began with a video involving foreign reporters visiting group homes in Bulgaria. From the footage and narration, it is evident that the people in these homes are living under conditions similar to those of large institutions. This is exemplified by the self-harm exhibited by various people in these group homes. After the video, Ms. Cojocariu talked about the issue of funding from the European Commission being used mainly for building group homes rather than investing in suitable infrastructure such as schools and hospitals to support local families and communities. She also covered the fact that many families who leave their children to these institutions do so because local facilities cannot support them rather than out of irresponsible parenting. Thus by advocating for a reallocation of the Commission’s resources, it is arguable that they could be used more effectively so that children can grow up with their families. It is also clear that there is a deficit in the understanding of group homes as transitionary rather than permanent when many of the people who stay in such residences lived there for decades instead of what should ideally be a few years.
Presentation by Dragana Ciric Milovanovic
Ms. Milovanovic gave a background of the group home investigation, stating that it took place between February and October 2019, and involved their team visiting 24 group homes, 5-day care centres, 4 larger residential institutions and 2 schools. The team was made up of disability rights, child welfare and medical experts from Bulgaria, Serbia and the US. There was an emphasis that international standards needed to be enforced to protect the rights of children with the core premise of living independently is the right to grow up in a family.
The reason why such homes are widespread across the country is a result of reform in Bulgaria social care services having saved the lives of many children who were neglected in orphanages in remote areas. This influenced the EU to provide 260 million euros to the Bulgarian government to continue building group homes. DRI mandates that international standards to protect rights of children and a core premise of living independently is the right to grow up in a family. The investigation found that group homes, especially larger ones, are dangerous to its users, that family like institutions are not a substitute to real families. These are institutions in practice. The investigation concluded that while treatment does not always occur in families, a true family dynamic can never occur in an institution. Long term emotional bonds can only be formed in a family.
A key finding of the team was that even though large institutions were being replaced by smaller buildings, these were still operating as institutions. They contribute to social isolation for a new generation of people with disabilities, leaving both children and adults staying in the same group homes without any future. Exposure to emotional neglect, violence and abuse is common in these homes with several cases being reported to the local authorities.
Recommendation: Ms. Milovanovic called for the Bulgarian government to put a moratorium on building new group homes in an effort to stop breaking up families. EU funds should go towards improving local infrastructure such as hospitals and schools so that children do not need to be taken from their families and put in such homes. This is especially relevant when the Bulgarian government is currently building 20 group homes for children. The top priority must be to protect infants and children with disabilities so they do not end up developing them due to lack of proper care. There must also be a strong support for choice, self-determination and advocacy for young adults in the system. The EU and other donors must closely monitor the effect of their funds on the lives of the children and adults living in these homes.
Presentation by Steven Allen
Mr. Allen explained that advocacy often happens in a “Brussels bubble” little interaction with what happens on the ground. As a specialist legal organisation which conducts human rights monitoring surround disabilities, the Validity Foundation emphasised the importance of investigating the Bulgarian government’s use of EU funds. It was found that each home holds 120 people or more and that the average length of stay ranges from 3 to 5 decades which is a very long time to be put in an institution and cannot be seen as a transition period.
A concern that the Foundation brought up was that reform for adults with disabilities was largely pushed by scandals in these institutions rather than genuine political will. Even then, the institutional model of social care in Bulgaria has not changed dramatically since joining the EU in 2007. The Bulgarian government’s lack of will to fundamentally change this system is shown by the fact that it routinely shuts down institutions when scandals happen and shifts the patients to smaller group homes which do not offer much of an improvement. Despite the often poor conditions of these group homes and the need to replace them with more user centred services, the Mr. Allen noted that there are externalities to consider. For example, in a small town with less than 500 permanent residents, the local group home provides employment and thus closing it would damage the economy.
In terms of EU funding, 18 million euros were allocated to building 68 group homes for adults in 2019, and 27 million euros were given to fund 20 group homes for children in October alone. It is evident that this funding has provided negative incentives to fill structures with the maximum number of people in an effort to increase efficiency and drive profit. This is unacceptable in a social economy.
Recommendation: Reforms must provide a focus on creating expert services for rehabilitation and building new infrastructures to provide local communities with the care they need. Describing these group homes as a “golden cage” which break European law standards, Mr. Allen called for a relocation of funds towards genuine services that guarantee the civil rights of their users.
Presentation by Jamie Bolling
Ms. Bolling’s presentation focused on independent living. She defined it having the rights to make decisions for oneself and being included in society. An institution does not foster independence as it enforces rigidity and routines at the cost of self-determination. Activities are often repetitive across institutions with some things like a visit to the park being the closest activity to a holiday. Independent Living works in accordance to the disability articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), specifically Article 19 which emphasises the right of disabled people to leave independently and be included in the community. Ms. Bolling affirmed that she is not against group homes in principle but that they must not operate like institutions. People may choose to live collectively but no one truly wishes to live in an institution.
She gave reference to other countries where group homes were more successful. In Sweden, a maximum of 6 people is permitted in group homes which is far less than the amount that was found in Bulgarian during the investigation. Meanwhile in Estonia the maximum is 10 people and a code of conduct is pinned on the walls to remind staff of their responsibilities in ensuring the independence of their users. It is imperative that Bulgarian care homes move towards this standard.
Recommendation: There must be further guidance towards the Bulgarian government on making institutions a transitionary measure rather than a permanent one. Public and private funds would be better spent on social services that can benefit people locally. There must be steps taken to raising awareness to the idea that reportedly cheaper costs surrounding institutionally run group homes does not help with rehabilitation and thus is not a defensible investment.
Speech by Julie Ward
Ms. Ward’s speech centred on how much the European institutions can achieve when people work together but also the dangers that a misallocation of EU funding can pose. She gave the example of the “Dignity for Lety” campaign which was created in response to EU funds permitting a pig farmer to build a farm over a site where hundreds of Roma were killed during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. Human dignity is unimpeachable and donors must be held to account over where their funding is going. Thus Ms. Ward highlighted that people need to have serious discussions with budget committees. Due to the political nature of being an MEP, no one can be sure who will be re-elected and reselected, and thus it is crucial not to have a short-sighted view over rehabilitation. That being said, policy advisors and accredited parliamentary assistants work in the Parliament for extended periods of time, and play a very valuable role in advising future MEPs in supporting the recommendations brought up in the preceding presentations. She also stressed the need for non-partisanship in approaching these issues, giving the example of her history working with the Greens/EFA group in the Parliament over legislation against anti-Roma discrimination.
She stated that there is much hope for progress at the European institutional level. 60% of newly elected MEPs are new and have re-established an intergroup on disabilities. There is also a group of MEPs signed up to work with PWDs outside of this intergroup. Meanwhile in the European Commission, a Commissioner for Equality has been established.
Conclusion by Ines Bulic Cojocariu
Ms. Cojocariu concluded the event by referring to the need to work together across organisations and to take note of countries such as Sweden and Estonia that have alternative group home models to Bulgaria. The focus should be on finding workable solutions based on the recommendations of the speakers. By ending the construction of these group homes, there can be a proper discussion over finding solutions to help people which the current system has let down.