Modernization of social services, reinforcement of central and local strategic planning capacities, supporting social policy decisions – TÁMOP (SROP - Social Renewal Operational Programme) priority project no. 5.4.1

On 15th of December 2009, the Hungarian Parliament accepted governmental proposal about the new drug strategy. This document titled „National Strategy for Treating Drug Problem” is valid for the period of 2010-2018. One of the most important aims drawn in the pillar titled „Treatment, service and harm reduction” is that an extensive institutional system should be set which has territorial coverage and suits client needs, works as an organization and provides adequate services also for risk groups and for groups with special needs. Therefore full development of „treatment spectrum” with appropriate capacity has high priority. This goal can be achieved by development of aligned addictological services and by ensuring conditions for cooperation between social and health services, which is crucial.
In the frame of „Modernization of social services, reinforcement of central and local strategic planning capacities, supporting social policy decisions” – TÁMOP (SROP - Social Renewal Operational Programme) priority project no. 5.4.1/08/1 we have the possibility to contribute to the realization of aims dated from “Treatment, services and harm reduction” section of the new drug strategy. The priority project contains five main pillars and one of the main items is called „Development of locally aligned or integrated service models for clients struggling with drug abuse and for problematic drug users, reinforcement and improvement of central and local strategic planning capacities.” The project meant to be implemented between 1st of December 2009 and 30th of November 2111 and it aims to facilitate more professional development. The pillar of drug affairs wishes to support local realization of demand reduction activities. In addition it aims to enable local experts responsible for services (mostly local, regional governmental decision makers, experts working on the treatment field or in services) to identify needs and lack of services, to plan expansion of services and to effectively achieve development (planning of sustainability is included). Further aim of the project is to support the local implementation of development tasks within the frame of model program and to enable national actors (e.g. National Institute for Drug Prevention, national drug coordination) to promote local development tasks and evaluation of local services (quality insurance system, evaluation methodology) and to plan realistic future developments.