Britt-Marie Nygren Family Association for Intercountry Adoption, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Britt-Marie Nygren Family Association for Intercountry Adoption, FFIA Sweden

A Family and a smile

The Swedish model  Market economy  Redistributive policy

Swedish society ground pillars  Society with focus on safety and welfare of the individual  Every citizen, regardless of background, income etc, should be guaranteed basic security in every phase of life  High taxes pay for a large public sector and finance general welfare systems (healthcare, childcare, schools, senior care etc).

Equality A belief that everyone is of equal worth Discrimination prohibited • Sex • Ethnic origin • Physical, mental or intellectual disabilities • Sexual orientation • Political or religions conviction

Gender equality - Gender Gap Index = 81 % - 79% of women are employed (Europe = 56%) - 69 % of fathers (Europe = 33 %) take parental leave - Out of 480 days parental leave 60 days are reserved for each of the parents

Equal rights – disability policy  People with disabilities have the same right to an independent life as everyone else.  Focus has been shifted from social and welfare issues to democracy and human rights.  Justice system  Transportation  IT

Social Insurance  An integral part of Sweden´s welfare  Covers essentially everyone  For families, children and elderly  People with disabilities, illnesses or occupational injuries

General benefits for parents ( child under the age of 10 years)  Parental benefit to stay home 480 days  Temporary parental benefit (Child birth or adoption) 10 days both parents (child up to the age 12 years)  Temporary parental benefit for care of children and you have to stay home from work

Temporary parental benefit (Child under the age of 18 or 21)  If the child is having certain functional impairments (special needs) (21 years)  if your child is seriously ill with a great danger for the child´s life  The child receives treatment for life threatening illness  Valid for both parents / related to income

Health and medical care heavily subsidized, taxpayer-funded High cost protection for individuals  Medical care, visit doctor, treatments etc max 160 USD / year - FREE CARD  Medicines max 315 USD – FREE CARD  Visiting doctor costs about 15 -30 USD / visit  Care is free for children, max 14 USD/day for adults (law) + no extra payment for treatment and medicines in hospitals

Equal opportunities  Community life  Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS)  Personal assistance free of charge

Childcare allowance (child 0-19 years) to provide parents with financial assistance  Extra expenses and work  The child needs special supervision and care  Large additional expenses due to the disability or illness (adapt a home or move to another home, aids, special food, travel etc.)

Temporary parental benefit - contact days (for children with special needs to 16 years)  To cover loss of income for the parents  Purpose to learn more how they can support their child  Parental training  Visit pre-school or school  Activity arranged by school

Arrival of SN child  Immediately : Health control  If the child has a known disability this is often prepared before the arrival  Child health care unit, child clinic or school doctor later  Referral to Habilitation centre

The County hospitals Child specialists  Pre-contact for advice  Pre-contact for plan of treatment  Surgical procedures

Lip- and cleft palate  The most common diagnose  6 specialist Centres  Quality Control  Network LKG association

Modern methods with good results Club foot Ponseti treatment

Child Habilitation  Habilitate = ”To make skilled”, with goal to help the person living an independent life as a fully worthy citizen  For persons with permanent disabilities  Advise, support and treatment for children and their families  Team of specialists in different areas

Habilitation , a ”+ resourse” in addition to ordinary health care  Early contact for support  From 6 years school with special groups for children with learning disabilities  Strengthening the motor and linguistic development, the social interaction, testing aid equipment etc.  Specialized teams for certain diagnoses

Rehabilitation and Habilitation in Sweden

Education every child shall have equal access

National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools  To ensure that children, young people and adults – regardless of functional ability – have adequate conditions to fulfill their educational goals. This is done through:  special needs support  education in special needs schools  accessible teaching materials  government funding

Special needs schools National resource centre Regional special needs schools  Pupils with deafness or impaired hearing. National special needs schools  Several different target groups. The teaching, environment and means of communication are adapted to the needs of the pupils.

The Child grows up… Disability allowance  If you are 19 or over  Assistance requirement and additional costs in daily life  Costs for aids  Health Care High cost protection

Disability movements strong tradition in Sweden  Swedish Disability Federation  60 organizations receive state grants  Organized based on their members 'disabilities  Some focus specifically on children and families

Jens 24 years

Jens

Friday ´ s work Jens working with his teacher

To communicate and make friends is necessary for everybody!

Jens 32 years

Further information http://www.forsakringskassan.se Other languages http://www.spsm.se English http://www.ffia.se English