Dzherelo Expansion Sites

Dzherelo Centre wants to start therapeutic day groups in smaller communities for children of 3-5 years old with complex impairments and milder disorders that benefit from early intervention, their parents or caregivers. Research is needed to develop regional assistance rather than just in larger cities. Research questions include: social services impact on communities, who needs the services, transportation services needed, and well-being improvements. This research will help to improve the collection and data transparency for access and family services’ use.
The further away from the cities, the worse services are for those with disabilities given lacking infrastructure, poor or absent transportation options which are worsened in winter conditions, and financial issues caused by unemployment to take care of a disabled child as there is no one else able to do so. Creating centers closer to communities with identified disabilities needs makes more sense to alleviate the aforementioned barriers. These targeted centers will provide therapeutic programming for families who then can begin to support each other, children educational services, and improve early educational outcomes.
Our goal is to create sustainable, cost-effective and effective therapeutic programming to support families through providing resources, education, and advocacy for those with disabilities. These new children’s groups will be a result of integrated research analysis. We will train specialists and parents, alongside Ukrainian community representatives. These groups will become an implemented model in Lviv Oblast for Lviv regional government (LODA) for the implementation of the Social Services Development Program with the concept of improving family planning or Development of Social Services for Persons with Special Needs.
This idea is innovative in Ukraine as it will begin to challenge barriers and stigmas, align early educational programming with Ukrainian laws, and create a delivery system of evidenced-based and modern therapeutic trends. Acceptability and awareness will be addressed in advocacy efforts and communication with families and communities about their needs. This project is quite innovative in Ukraine as there are very limited early developmental services, especially for those who needs prevent them from participating in traditional daycare services.