Provider Fora: Capacity building in Eastern and Central Europe
During 2004 and 2005, EASPD decided to take initiative towards supporting service provider organisations in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), both candidate and new accession countries to become self sustainable and independent, together with the support of its Standing Committee on Enlargement and that of the membership. EASPD is also committed towards de-institutionalisation of services and the setting up of community based settings and person centered services in the CEE countries.
The care sector in the new member states and in the accession countries is generally spoken less structured and developed. EASPD is committed to share its network(s) and experiences with service providers and their umbrella associations in all new member states and accession countries. EASPD does so to support the development of local provider activities and to enhance the quality of services to people with disabilities. In particular, EASPD launched a very practical grass-root initiative:the twinning intitative. EASPD has invited local service providers in CEE countries to link up with their counterparts from the EU or the other way around.
Moreover, a series of Provider Fora were initiated in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the financial support either of the European Commission (DG EAC) or other types of funding.