In January 2016, five of the Save the Children country offices in Eastern Europe (Armenia, Albania, Georgia, Kosovo and North-West Balkans), with the support and guidance of Save the Children US, launched a three-year regional project – Community-Based Services for Children with Disabilities. The aim of this project was to establish a comprehensive and high-quality model for community-based services for children with disabilities that would enable and support processes of family strengthening and inclusive education in these countries. As a result, eleven CBS Model Centers were established in the following towns: Yerevan, Armavir and Artashat (Armenia), Durres and Vlore (Albania), Tbilisi and Kazreti (Georgia), Gjakova and Ferizaj (Kosovo) and Bihac and Cazin (North-West Balkans). Each of the centers have their own specificities as they are context-relevant and needs-based; however, they are based on the same values and principles, they share similar approaches when it comes to staff structure, activities, etc. Most importantly, they all apply the same integrated approach in addressing the support and inclusion of children with disabilities and their families.
This document presents a description of the model of community-based services for children with disabilities established in Eastern Europe which aims to inspire and support service providers, governments and communities around the globe to join forces and establish something similar in their respective countries, thus increasing prospects for active social inclusion of children with disabilities. The presented model is generic and is based on the best practices applied in 11 community-based centers.