Access To Social Services Research Articles

Health risk associated with residential relocation among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA: a cross sectional study

BackgroundGiven the housing instability and frequent residential relocation (both volitional and hegemonic) of people who inject drugs, we sought to determine whether residential relocation (defined as sleeping in a different place in the past 30 days) is associated with health outcomes in a sample of people who inject drugs (PWID).MethodsWe recruited 601 PWID using targeted sampling and interviewed them between 2016 and 2018 in San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA about housing, drug use practices, and service utilization. We then developed multivariable regression models to investigate how residential relocation is associated with violence, health outcomes, and social service access. We analyzed our data between June 2018 and October 2019.ResultsParticipants who relocated in the past 30 days had lower odds of being in substance use treatment (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.62, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.42, 0.89) and higher odds of nonfatal overdose (AOR = 2.50, CI = 1.28, 4.90), receptive syringe sharing (AOR = 2.26, CI = 1.18, 4.32), severe food insecurity (AOR = 1.69, CI = 1.14, 2.50), having belongings stolen (AOR = 2.14, CI = 1.42, 3.21), experiencing physical assault (AOR = 1.58, CI = 1.03, 2.43), arrest (AOR = 1.64, CI = 1.02, 2.65), and jail (AOR = 1.90, CI = 1.16, 3.13) in the past 6 months when compared to those who did not relocate.ConclusionsPWID who have relocated in the past 30 days have higher odds of experiencing violence and life- threatening adverse outcomes, and policies that disrupt living circumstances of PWID should be ended in favor of those that support housing stability.

Inclusive Development of Persons with Disabilities in India: A Situational Analysis

In India around 2.68 Cr persons are disabled which constitutes 2.21% of the total population. Therefore Inclusive development of the disabled persons has been initiated by the government by implementing various welfare and development measures for comprehensive development of persons with disabilities in the country. In international level UN convention of Person with Disabilities indicates that Persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy human rights and fundamental freedom without any barrier. Even SDGs also addresses the issues concerning to disabled persons with its aim of Leaving No One Behind. In spite of many efforts right from Nation to Globe still Persons with disabilities are more vulnerable and they face multiple problems in terms of accessibility of social services, education, health, rehabilitation and support system at community level. Therefore there is an urgent need to take serious calls to strethaning this able population on priority basis. The present paper has been planned with view to discuss the situation of disabled persons in terms of their empowerment and also focuses on various policies and welfare measures related to Inclusive development of Person with disabilities and to suggest proper measures for achieving comprehensive development of Persons with Disabilities.

The influence of socioeconomic factors on deceased organ donation in Iran.

BackgroundThere is a large gap between the number of patients on organ waiting lists and the number of available organs for donation. This study investigated the socioeconomic factors in Iran that influenced decisions for organ donation among the families of brain-dead donors.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study was performed among the families of 333 organ donors in Iran. Two trained researchers interviewed family members about the donor’s age, sex, cause of brain death, education level, marital status, number of children, history of addiction, the financial status of the donor’s family, and reasons for which they considered refusing organ donation.ResultsThe mean age of the donors was 37.23±16.59 years. During 2017–2019, significant differences were found according to income (P<0.001), marital status (P<0.001), sex (P=0.04), and occupation (P=0.04). More than half of the organ donors were of low socioeconomic status, and nearly half were the sole income earners of large families. Trauma was the most common cause of death (44.6%). The most common reasons for which the families considered refusing organ donation were unfamiliarity with the concept of brain death, denial, and the expectation of a miracle.ConclusionsThe donor’s socioeconomic status and availability of social services, such as insurance coverage, psychological services, and mourning therapy courses, play an important role in organ donation. Adequate support for the deceased’s family after organ donation is imperative.

SOSIALISASI SARANA SANITASI DAN POLA HIDUP SEHAT DI DESA BAHAGIA PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

A good living environment can support a healthy community life. Activities to assess this situation by carrying out environmental sanitation assessments with aspects related to several things such as the availability of clean water, sanitation for waste disposal, the physical condition of buildings, air quality, as well as other conditions such as transportation facilities, and the availability of social services. This community service is a form of application of the third Tri Dharma of Higher Education. The method used in community service is carried out by observation, socialization, data collection and mentoring/evaluation. The material presented in this socialization was general knowledge about sanitation facilities and healthy lifestyles during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of holding this activity is to increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of sanitation facilities and a good healthy lifestyle for prevention during the Covid-19 pandemic, provide several theories and general descriptions of the usefulness of good sanitation facilities developed in daily life and sustainable lifestyles. clean and healthy which should be made a habit in the community, especially the place to live, disseminating information conveyed to family, relatives, friends so that the knowledge gained can be absorbed and spread widely and apply it in everyday life. The benefits of this program activity are that the community can apply hygiene in household sanitation, educate and provide comfort for the people around us. Always reminding each other how important health is, starting from the household environment, maintaining cleanliness in every home, conducting community associations for healthy and clean environments such as waste banks, mutual cooperation, and community service.

Addressing patient\u2019s unmet social needs: disparities in access to social services in the United States from 1990 to 2014, a national times series study

BackgroundTo address patient’s unmet social needs and improve health outcomes, health systems have developed programs to refer patients in need to social service agencies. However, the capacity to respond to patient referrals varies tremendously across communities. This study assesses the emergence of disparities in spatial access to social services from 1990 to 2014.MethodsSocial service providers in the lower 48 continental U.S. states were identified annually from 1990 to 2014 from the National Establishment Times Series (NETS) database. The addresses of providers were linked in each year to 2010 US Census tract geometries. Time series analyses of annual counts of services per Km2 were conducted using Generalized Estimating Equations with tracts stratified into tertiles of 1990 population density, quartiles of 1990 poverty rate and quartiles of 1990 to 2010 change in median household income.ResultsThroughout the period, social service agencies/Km2 increased across tracts. For high population density tracts, in the top quartile of 1990 poverty rate, compared to tracts that experienced the steepest declines in median household income from 1990 to 2010, tracts that experienced the largest increases in income had more services (+ 1.53/Km2, 95% CI 1.23, 1.83) in 1990 and also experienced the steepest increases in services from 1990 to 2010: a 0.09 services/Km2/year greater increase (95% CI 0.07, 0.11). Similar results were observed for high poverty tracts in the middle third of population density, but not in tracts in the lowest third of population density, where there were very few providers.ConclusionFrom 1990 to 2014 a spatial mismatch emerged between the availability of social services and the expected need for social services as the population characteristics of neighborhoods changed. High poverty tracts that experienced further economic decline from 1990 to 2010, began the period with the lowest access to services and experienced the smallest increases in access to services. Access was highest and grew the fastest in high poverty tracts that experienced the largest increases in median household income. We theorize that agglomeration benefits and the marketization of welfare may explain the emergence of this spatial mismatch.

SOCIALINIŲ PASLAUGŲ PRIEINAMUMAS PSICHOSOCIALINĘ NEGALIĄ TURINTIEMS ASMENIMS: ANYKŠČIŲ RAJONO ATVEJIS

meeting their needs is the social services. Individuals with psycho-social disabilities still experience social exclusion and a lack of services. The prevailing system of social services in Lithuania is more general, and less focused on the individual needs of a person with a disability. In order to ensure the functioning of a person with a psycho-social disability in public life, changes in the provision of social services are necessary. An important aspect is inter-institutional cooperation at all levels. In Lithuania, local government is responsible for the provision of social services. In this article, we analyse the accessibility of social services for people with psycho-social disabilities based on a case study. The results of the research reveal the availability and functioning of help for people with psycho-social disabilities in community life. The practical significance of the study is useful for improving the accessibility of services for people with psycho-social disabilities in the context of social inclusion in the community.

O korzyściach płynących z wykorzystania elementów mediacji w obszarze interwencji kryzysowej

The area of social support, especially in overcoming crises and the availability of social services, is undergoing continuous development in Poland. In recent years, much attention has been paid to strengthening the availability of crisis intervention and mediation services. Both services have many references in common, as well as the potential to complement each other. The aim of this paper is to analyse the potential which may be connected with using elements of mediation in the practice of those institutions of the social assistance system which deal with crisis intervention. Interdisciplinary reflection on the common features of crisis intervention and mediation leads to the conclusion that both fields, despite noticeable differences, have to some extent convergent goals and assumptions, and what is more, they are based on similar scopes of knowledge, mainly from the field of psychology and social work. Moreover, they can complement each other and complement aid processes.

Institutional Support for Families Taising Children with Disabilities in the Context of Social Inclusion: Analysis of Children’s Day Centers

The article examines the availability of institutional support for families raising children with disabilities. The aim of the study is to identify opportunities for social inclusion of children with disabilities in the children’s day center. Families raising children with disabilities are unable to function fully in public life due to the lack of access to services. Access to services and assistance, for the most vulnerable groups, depends on the attitude of state social policy makers, financial resources, cooperation, public involvement and, ultimately, the family’s own readiness to participate in public life. The methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization and comparative analysis of scientific literature were used in the research.&#x0D; The research revealed that the mechanism of children’s day care centers operating in Lithuania does not correspond to the model of creating an inclusive environment. Therefore, political decisions are needed on the development of services and the development of social inclusion at both the state and municipal levels, taking into account the needs of families raising children with disabilities. The practical significance of the study is that the study is useful for improving the accessibility of social services for families with children with disabilities and developing the concept of social inclusion.

Availability of social services for families with disabled children in the context of the welfare state

The phenomenon of the welfare state is characterized by complexity of indicators. To determine in which areas the country is closer to the welfare state, various areas of social policy are analysed. In this article, we set out to investigate one of them, i.e., the accessibility of social services for children with disabilities. The European Union ensures the basic preconditions for the well-being of children with disabilities and emphasizes the compatibility of health, social and educational services (European Commission, 2021). In addition, Member States are free to introduce specific measures for social inclusion (COM, 2021). The well-being of children with disabilities is inseparable from that of adults, usually the family in which the children live. Depending on the child’s disability, the family has to devote time to the child’s special needs, so opportunities to function in society, such as working and earning an income, become dependent on the social assistance received for the disabled child. Research shows that participation in labour market processes reduces the social exclusion of families with children with disabilities and improves quality of life indicators in general (Stefanidis &amp; Strogilos 2020). However, analysis of good practice is more common, while information about the lack of services that parents face difficulties remains overboard. Thus, our research contributes to a better understanding of how families raising children with disabilities use state-provided social services and what solutions and measures are needed to improve the quality of life of children with disabilities and their relatives. The practical implications of our article are revealed through the possibility of more confidently shaping the decisions and measures of the welfare state.The article presents results of a survey of 68 families with disabled children. Our research was conducted in Druskininkai municipality which has typical infrastructure of social services for the disabled and their families in Lithuania.Our study has shown that social services in Lithuania poorly meet needs of families with disabled children. Though social inclusion is one of the most important features of the welfare state, the provision of social services to disabled and their families goes beyond the concept in Druskininkai municipality at least. Families have little information about social guarantees and support provided by the state and municipality. The families are limited to services reported by health care and education institutions. Moreover, the most significant problem hindering social integration of disabled and their families is a small portion of disabled children using services of day care centre. As a result, children suffer at risk of social exclusion while disabled children’s parents lack of opportunities to fully participate in the labour market.Based on the results of the study we state that increasing the availability of social services that meet the needs of families with disabled children is a necessary social policy solution, without which the development of a welfare state in Lithuania is hardly possible.

The Concept of the Cross-Border Method in the Context of Ageing

The article presents the concept of the cross-border method that was developed in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme project. The aim of this method is to provide students on PhD/Mg programmes with theoretical knowledge and practical competencies on how to properly develop and conduct research on social and health issues of the elderly in care institutions and in the family environment by using the cross-border method through collaboration and the transfer of innovation. This method was constructed as an attempt to understand the challenges of an ageing society in the modern world, and to be able to assess them in research thereof from both intercultural and comparative perspectives. In order to adopt innovations and to transfer experience in the context of addressing the problems of an ageing society, there is a potential to contribute to the stability of social protection and the accessibility of social services for the elderly. The article presents the concept of the method as one of the results of the project, and as a part of the long-term scientific contributions to revealing the importance of international cooperation and innovation in meeting the challenges of an ageing society. A properly chosen method and well-conducted studies show the essence of the phenomenon of an ageing society and its patterns. The methods determine the quality and reliability of the knowledge of the research subject, and open up opportunities for developing political, learning and care strategies for the social protection of an ageing society in the context of demographic change.

الشــــراکة المجتمـــــعیة کمدخل لتحسیــــن جودة الخدمات الاجتماعیة

- ملخص : هدفت الدراسة إلى تحديد دور الشراکة المجتمعية في تحسين جودة الخدمات الاجتماعية من خلال: تحديد دور الشراکة المجتمعية فى إتاحة الخدمات الاجتماعية ، تحقيق کفاية الخدمات الاجتماعية ، تحقيق عدالة توزيع الخدمات الاجتماعية ، استدامة الخدمات الاجتماعية ، کذلک تحديد المعوقات التي تواجه الشراکة المجتمعية في تحسين جودة الخدمات الاجتماعية ، التوصل لتصور مقترح لتفعيل دور الشراکة المجتمعية في تحسين جودة الخدمات الاجتماعية، ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة فقد أعتمدت على استمارة قياس کأداة رئيسية قام باعدادها الباحث من خلال الاطلاع على الدراسات السابقة، واستشارة ذوي الخبرة ، وتتکون الأداة من (42) عبارة اضافة للبيانات الأولية موزعة کالتالى : البيانات الأولية (6) أسئلة ، دور الشراکة المجتمعية فى إتاحة الخدمات الاجتماعية (7) عبارات ، تحقيق کفاية الخدمات الاجتماعية (7) عبارات ، تحقيق عدالة توزيع الخدمات الاجتماعية (7) عبارات ، استدامة الخدمات الاجتماعية(7) عبارات ، المعوقات التي تواجه الشراکة المجتمعية (7) عبارات ، التوصل لتصور مقترح لتفعيل دور الشراکة المجتمعية في تحسين جودة الخدمات الاجتماعية (7) عبارات ، وتم التأکد من صدقها وثباتها وقد طبقت ميدانيا على عينة بلغت (138) مفردة موزعة على مشروعات الشراکة المجتمعية بمحافظة الفيوم ، وتوصلت الدراسة إلى عدة نتائج وهي: أن للشراکة المجتمعية دور هام في تحقيق إتاحة الخدمات الاجتماعية عن طريق: توفير تلک الخدمات ، التعريف بها ، مقابلتها للاحتياجات الأساسية، کما أن دورها في تحقيق کفاية الخدمات الاجتماعية تمثل في: تقديم الخدمات بمستوى جيد ، تسهيل اجراءات الحصول عليها، الاستفادة منها في تحسين الدخل ، التنويع، أما دورها في تحقيق عدالة توزيع الخدمات الاجتماعية فقد تمثل في: المعاملة الحسنة ، الحصول على الخدمة بدون تفرقة، توفير الخدمة للمحتاج إليها، وأما عن دورها في استدامة الخدمات الاجتماعية فقد شمل: الحصول على الخدمة باستمرار، تناسب الخدمات مع الاحتياجات ، البحث عن خدمات جديدة، أما عن المعوقات التي تواجه الشراکة المجتمعية في تحسين جودة الخدمات الاجتماعية فقد تمثل أهمها في: عدم تطوير المشروعات،عدم تناسب الخدمات مع الاحتياجات ، ترکز الخدمات على فئة واحدة، أما عن مقترحات تفعيل دور الشراکة المجتمعية فقد تمثلت في: تطوير الخدمات، الدراسة المستمرة للاحتياجات، ايجاد خدمات جديدة ، الاهتمام بمشروعات تحسين الدخل، تبسيط اجراءات الحصول على الخدمات. - الکلمات المفتاحية: الشــــراکة المجتمـــــعية ، الجودة ، الخدمات الاجتماعية. The study aimed to determine the role of community partnership in improving the quality of social services through: determining the role of community partnership in providing social services, achieving adequacy of social services, achieving fair distribution of social services, sustainability of social services, as well as identifying the obstacles facing community partnership in improving the quality of Social services, to reach a proposed vision to activate the role of community partnership in improving the quality of social services. To achieve the objectives of the study, it relied on a measurement form as a main tool prepared by the researcher by reviewing previous studies and consulting with experts. The tool consists of (42) phrases in addition to the primary data distributed as follows: primary data (6) questions, the role of community partnership in providing social services (7) phrases, achieving the adequacy of social services (7) phrases, achieving fair distribution of social services (7) phrases ,Sustainability of social services (7) Phrases, Obstacles facing community partnership (7) Phrases, reaching a proposed vision to activate the role of community partnership in improving the quality of social services (7) Phrases. Its validity and reliability were confirmed, and it was field-applied to a sample of (138) items distributed among community partnership projects in Fayoum Governorate. The study reached several results, which are: The community partnership has an important role in achieving the availability of social services by: providing these services, introducing them, and meeting the basic needs. Its role in achieving the adequacy of social services is represented in: providing services at a good level, facilitating the procedures for obtaining them, benefiting from them in improving income, diversifying. Its role in achieving fair distribution of social services has been: good treatment, free access to service, and service to those in need. As for its role in the sustainability of social services, it included: access to service continuously, tailored to needs, search for new services. As for the obstacles facing community partnership in improving the quality of social services, the most important of which are: lack of project development, disproportionate services to needs, services focus on one category. The proposals to activate the role of community partnership were: service development, continuous needs study, new services, interest in income improvement projects, and streamlined access to services. Keywords: community partnership, quality , social services.

TO THE ISSUE ABOUT UPDATING THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES IN UKRAINE

The article substantiates the essential characteristics of the legal framework, which, according to the author, should be at the heart of the post-reform system of providing social services to persons / families who have suffered / may be exposed to a difficult life circumstance in Ukraine. These are: the obligatory application of measures to prevent a person / family from falling into a difficult life circumstance; the obligation to stimulate, encourage and facilitate independent / family participation in overcoming or minimizing a difficult life circumstance; the best result of the social services for its recipient. Certain problems of the state guaranteeing of the provision of social services in the procedure of social prevention of difficult life circumstances are analyzed. The need for legislative regulation of the effective availability of social services is determined. The current Law of Ukraine «On Social Services» as well as by-laws are critically analyzed for compliance with the above principles of providing social services. Corresponding amendments to the legislation are proposed.

Increasing access and utilization of social services for Cambodian American refugees: An ethnic-specific services approach

Cambodian Americans are a growing subgroup of the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) population in the United States but they have largely remained invisible. This invisibility may have contributed to social services needs being unmet. This study sought to identify strategies for increasing access and utilization of social services for Cambodian American refugees that are culturally-informed. A qualitative approach was taken that enhances the ability to ascertain 29 social service providers’ perspectives who specifically work with the population through ethnic-specific social services programs and agencies. Themes emerged from the data as strategies for increasing social services access and utilization included 1) providing a welcoming environment to increase the possibility of Cambodian Americans using services and return rates; 2) having bilingual and bicultural service providers to help Cambodian Americans feel understood and develop a stronger sense of trust; 3) engaging in community outreach to increase awareness of available services; 4) embracing culture and spirituality to demonstrate respect and understanding; and 5) developing patience by assisting with various needs in order to build trust. Implications of the findings from the study provide specific strategies for mainstream providers and agencies to consider adopting in order to increase social services access and utilization among Cambodian Americans.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ФИНАНСИРОВАНИЯ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ СФЕРЫ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ БЕЛАРУСЬ

The social sphere of the Republic of Belarus has significant needs for economic resources, the introduction of the latest management methods, advanced nanotechnologies for the provision of services and services. Budgetary and extrabudgetary resources did not fully meet all social needs, so private investment was needed. Attracting private investment in the social sphere will improve the quality and accessibility of social services, satisfy the population, create conditions for increasing the list of social services, and reduce budget expenditures. It is necessary to attract private capital and develop other alternative sources of income, among which public-private partnerships and social entrepreneurship can be allocated. The development of social entrepreneurship in Belarus will help to solve the following problems: creating jobs; provision of specialized services for people with disabilities; support for education, assistance to people in difficult situations; creation of social projects; improvement of ecology, etc. In the Republic of Belarus, a large burden on the financing of the social sphere falls on the consolidated budget, therefore, the effectiveness of budget policy lies not only in improving methods of generating income, but also in reducing social spending. It is recommended to pay close attention to social expenditures in the preparation of a consolidated budget, as well as the development and search for new ways of investing. This work should be carried out taking into account the requirements of the modern economy at both the national and interstate levels.

Influence of municipal management on the organization of children's healthcare in primary care services in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

The aim was to assess the association between the organizational quality of children's healthcare in primary care services and variables in the management context. An evaluative survey in 151 primary care services in 40 municipalities (counties) in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, answered the QualiAB in 2014. Services were scored according to 41 children's health indicators which comprised quality groups distributed by quartiles and were associated with 17 management indicators. The following were not associated with the quality groups: participation in the More Doctors Program/Provab-Médico (p = 0.102), availability of social services (p = 0.315), and high-risk pregnancy (p = 0.814). The association was significant for all the others. Although for some variables, groups G1 and G2 were similar to the more polar groups (G0 and G3), the latter showed differences in all the variables. The services belonging to the group considered as having the best quality (G3) were mostly organized in the Family Health Unit/Mixed model (p = 0.018), administered under outsourced management (p < 0.001), regularly supplied prenatal care (p < 0.001), had a general practitioner or family physician available on a 24/7 basis (p = 0.009), and had a support network consisting mainly of CAPSi and CAPSAd III and children's health services (p < 0.001). They also reported holding weekly team meetings (p < 0.001), studying cases of spontaneous demand (p < 0.001), and changing the management and organization of care based on the evaluative process (p = 0.004). In conclusion, organizational quality does not depend only on practices by health professionals, but also on administrators' decisions.

Development of rural areas of a coal-mining region in the context of the creation of an agglomeration system

The article is devoted to the study of the problems of the development of rural agglomerations of a coal-mining region. It was revealed that the intensive development of the coal industry leads to negative consequences for the environment, which affect the socio-economic development and the quality of life of the population of a region. The rural areas of the Russian Federation and each individual region are strategic resources, however, the lack of opportunity to meet their urgent needs, difficult living conditions of the rural population, isolation of rural settlements from scientific and technological achievements, poor development of transport infrastructure and communications do not allow unlocking the potential of rural areas. Analyzing the decisions made in recent years by the Government of the Russian Federation to regulate the development of rural areas and the agro-industry, we can conclude about a qualitatively new approach to state regulation of the agrarian sector. At the same time, the financial position of the overwhelming majority of the rural population does not allow contracting house construction mortgage loans. The level of improvement of the rural housing stock is 2-3 times lagging behind the urban one. Coal mining entails disturbance of land, which cannot be further used. It is accompanied by a high incidence of respiratory diseases and cancers, which tends to grow. The resources allocated for welfare programs do not allow the residents in rural areas to significantly improve their living conditions, to increase the availability of social services and their quality. To solve the identified problems, it is proposed to create rural agglomerations, allowing for more efficient and independent development of rural areas; to reduce the overlapping of management functions through streamlining management structures; implement a more equitable social policy for the residents of rural areas.

Civil Law Constructions in Social Service Legislation

The article analyzes the problems of legal regulation of social services that arise in connection with the use of private law principles in the legislation on social services (contractual structures, the involvement of non-state providers of social services, the introduction of competitive principles, etc.). On January 1, 2015, the Federal Law of December 28, 2013 No. 442-FZ “On the Basics of Social Services for Citizens in the Russian Federation” entered into force, which made significant changes to the system of social services. In this regulatory legal act, a complex of legislative novelties was implemented, aimed at overcoming the crisis situation in social services. It was assumed that ensuring a competitive environment, including through the provision of social services on a contractual basis, would improve their quality, and the involvement of non-governmental organizations would solve the problem of the availability of social services. However, an analysis of the provisions of the current federal legislation and the legislation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation revealed certain problems of legal regulation that impede the achievement of the goals set (violation of the continuity of legislation, the use of certain private law elements of legal regulation in the regulation of public law relations, etc.). Based on the results of the study, the Author concludes that the goals set for the legislator have not been fully achieved. The involvement of non-state providers of social services did not solve the problem of accessibility of social services. At the same time, at the federal and regional levels, a legal space has been created for “delegating” certain state functions to private organizations, the effectiveness of which raises objective doubts. The use of some private law elements of legal regulation (for example, the legal structure “contract”) does not serve the purpose of ensuring the guarantee of social services, but entails further “commercialization” of relations in the field of social services. The article also examines the experience of using so-called hospital-replacing technologies in certain constituent entities of the Russian Federation (creation of foster families for disabled people and citizens living alone). The Author comes to the conclusion that hospitalreplacing technologies can hardly be considered a really effective means of solving the problem of the availability of social services due to the low level of fees received for caring for single citizens and (or) disabled people.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF PENAN STUDENTS IN TWO PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT OF THEIR SCHOOL

This article documents the demographic background of Penan secondary school students that arestudying in two public secondary schools located at the Baram District in Miri Division, SarawakMalaysia and the academic achievement of their schools’ leavers. Ethnographic research methodswhich include survey questionnaire, interviews and field observations are used to obtain the data. Datafrom interviews and observations are analysed thematically and Microsoft Excel is used to analyse datarelated to demographic profile of students such as their age, gender, village and level of education.Data on the cost of transport used to go to boarding schools and information related to the access tothe internet and telephone service are analysed to examine students’ mobility and accessibility. Accessto social services, including the internet and telephone, is important for all people, including Penanpopulations. In the context of education, internet access allows for learning to take place at any time,any place and at any pace. Through the data on students’ demographic profile and academicachievement of school leavers, the study calls for the understanding of Penan education beyondindividuals’ agency. This includes the understanding of students’ mobility from village to boardingschools which interlinked with the idea that education enables and promotes the acquisition of skills,knowledge and broadens individuals’ horizons. Moreover, pursuing secondary schools outside students’villages provides opportunities for employment outside their villages after the completion of their SPMor STPM examinations; opens a window to advance their education to tertiary level as an attempt toimprove their socio-economic status.

Accountable Care Organizations during Covid-19: Routine care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the health and well-being of older adults with multiple chronic conditions. To date, limited information exists about how Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are adapting to manage these patients. We surveyed 78 Medicare ACOs about their concerns for these patients during the pandemic and strategies they are employing to address them. ACOs expressed major concerns about disruptions to necessary care for this population, including the accessibility of social services and long-term care services. While certain strategies like virtual primary and specialty care visits were being used by nearly all ACOs, other services such as virtual social services, home medication delivery, and remote lab monitoring were far less commonly accessible. ACOs expressed that support for telehealth services, investment in remote monitoring capabilities, and funding for new, targeted care innovation initiatives would help them better care for vulnerable patients during this pandemic.

Evaluation of local accessibility of homes for seniors using multi-criteria approach - Evidence from the Czech Republic.

The availability of public services has been perceived as one of the parameters for evaluating the quality of services and a basic component of the effectiveness of the system. Social services have been understood as public services in the countries of the European Union. The state has the primary responsibility for ensuring the availability of social services and should have established powers in the areas of planning, coordination and evaluation. The aim of this paper is to comprehensively evaluate the availability of homes for seniors aggregated into individual districts of the Czech Republic. The method of multi-criteria decision-making was chosen for the evaluation, specifically the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution in combination with the Coefficient of Variance method, as a method for the objective determination of the weights of input indicators. The evaluation in 2017 included 77 districts of the Czech Republic and 519 homes for seniors, which are registered providers of social services for persons who, due to age and reduced self-sufficiency, cannot take care of themselves and are users of residential social services. Based on 14 defined indicators, the local accessibility within individual districts of the Czech Republic was evaluated, focusing on five research questions. The indicators were defined in such a way as to reflect the nature of the problems and to define the need for this service in the territory. Based on the results, a significant relationship was demonstrated between the amount of subsidy per bed, per month, granted to homes for seniors in individual districts of the Czech Republic and service availability, i.e. districts in which homes for seniors with higher subsidies per bed show better availability.