26 February 2015 – 14:00-15:30
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2
Independent Living for Everyone: Innovative Strategies of Cities, Regions and their
Networks
RATIONALE:
The concept of Independent Living involves a series of aspects of municipal and regional
policymaking. Persons with disabilities, but also the elderly and other vulnerable groups rely
on effective and individualized community-based services to enjoy the same quality of life
that others take for granted. Such services are for their major part supplied at the city or
regional level, are often provided by service providers that are fully or partially owned or
directed by municipalities and / or regions. Cities, regions and their international networks
therefore play a crucial role in shaping the process that enables persons with disabilities, the
elderly and other vulnerable groups to lead an independent life and to thus construct more
inclusive societies.
OVERALL AIM:
The session’s overall objective is to host a dialogue between representatives of cities,
regions and their networks, and citizens, NGOs, DPOs, service providers and other
conference participants, in which to brainstorm and discuss about strategies that improve
the quality of life for everyone, including citizens that are having a disability or an advanced
age.
FORMAT:
Upon arrival, participants join one of the 3-4 groups. The moderator will then briefly explain
the session’s format and shortly introduce the topic (potentially weaving the questions
tackled by the working groups into his talk). Thereafter two expert speakers from networks
of cities and regions will kick off the session with a short introduction of their work,
reflecting upon the important issues and challenges cities and regions are confronted with
(including some provocative questions/food for thought). Thereafter participants will work
in groups, under the guidance of the moderator. Each of the groups will make a round of
introductions, select a rapporteur and then debate a pre-defined topic with the help of 2-3
questions (40 minutes). Thereafter the rapporteurs of the different working groups would
present briefly the conclusions of that debate (a few proposals) in plenary.
The room will allow up to 50-60 people to join; ideal would be about 30-max. 40.
MATERIALS PROVIDED:
Hand-outs per working group
Post-its, paper and pens
Assistance with explaining group format (upon arrival of participants) & timekeeping
MODERATOR:
Edwin MERMANS, Province of Noord Brabant: Edwin Mermans is policy officer at the
Department of Social & Cultural Development from the Province Noord-Brabant (NL). He is
involved in the Health & Care Economy Programme and is co-initiator of the Community of
Regions for Assisted Living, (Coral) which is a European network about regional policy for
Active and Healthy Ageing. He is involved in the e-health network of the AER and member of
Action Group Independent Living from the European Innovation Partnership on Active and
Healthy Ageing.
EXPERT STATEMENTS:
Johanna PACEVICIUS, Assembly of European Regions (AER): The Assembly of European
Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regional authorities in wider Europe,
bringing together regions from 35 countries. Since 2010, Johanna Pacevicius has been
facilitating strategic information, tools and connections for regional stakeholders and
managing European projects. She leads the work of the AER Social Policy and Public Health
Committee, which focuses on innovation in the public sector, ICT for inclusive societies and
social entrepreneurship.
Elena CURTOPASSI, Veneto Region, European Network for Social Authorities (ENSA) and
European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network (ELISAN): Elena Curtopassi has a 16
years’ experience in regional policies, working for the Veneto Region Brussels Office in
charge of Social, International Affairs and EU policies. She steers two European networks:
the ENSA - European Network for Social Authorities, a network of cities and European
Regions that aims to promote international cooperation in the social field, and the ELISAN European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network which aims to speak up for local and
regional representatives responsible for social action in Europe.
DETAILED AGENDA:
14h00 Welcome and introduction by moderator
14h05 Expert statement by Johanna Pacevicius, AER
14h10 Expert statement Elena Curtopassi, Veneto Region, European Network for Social
Authorities (ENSA) and European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network (ELISAN)
14h15 Split into 3 working groups led by the moderators above and guided by pre-defined
questions – Working Groups:
Working group 1: Innovating through end user involvement: Advantages and
challenges with its implementation
Moderator: Johanna PACEVICIUS, Assembly of European Regions
- How are end users best involved in the organization of services they need?
- What are the approaches that have a proven track record of success?
- Which challenges remain for policy makers? And for users?
- Based on your experience, how can civil society, the private sector and
universities better collaborate with regional government to ensure that
participation goes further than mere consultations?
- What are the elements of success of the different strategies?
- How does the engagement at international level contribute to improve policy
making and consequently improve the lives of citizens?
Working group 2:
Innovating through integrated smart care and home care services
Moderator: Edwin MERMANS, Province of Noord Brabant
- Which strategies can lead to the scale up of, and wider acceptance of, innovative
solutions that improve the quality of life for everyone, including people with
disabilities and other vulnerable groups? (best practices)
- What is needed to produce a sort of “innovation ecosystem”?
- What is the role of government stakeholders in this process?
- Which challenges remain and how to overcome those challenges?
- What lessons could be learnt?
- What can cooperation between cities and regions at an international level
contribute?
Working group 3:
Innovating through integrated social and health care services
Moderator: Elena CURTOPASSI, Veneto Region, European Network for Social Authorities
(ENSA) and European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network (ELISAN)
- How to plan social and health integration and which directions for setting up the
most appropriate care methods?
- How to access the social and health care system?
- Ways of multi-dimensional needs assessment?
- Role of the family, the caregivers and the professionals? Training aspects?
- Monitoring and evaluations of outcomes?
- Which challenges remain and how to overcome those challenges?
- How can cooperation between cities and regions at an international level
contribute?
15h05 Reminder by timekeeper that only 5 minutes for debate is left
15h10 Reporting of proposals and conclusions by the three group moderators / selected
speakers (max 3 minutes per group)
15h25 Moderator wraps up
15h30 End