SOCIAL POLICY INNOVATIONS

Lithuania started implementing reforms of free market, economic policy and social security in 1990. The reform of the social services' system was to create the complete network of social services satisfying the needs of the community and covering all social groups. Municipality, supporting NGO's, undertook creating mixed system, where the society would take an active part in solving social issues. Vilnius Municipality was one of the first to start reforms of the social services' system.

At the initial stage of activity NGO's were not strong enough to solve all development issues of different social services, therefore the municipality took responsibility for providing some services. In 1996 municipal Social Care Centre prepared a proposal concerning implementation of the development programme of social policy and community services. The Centre provided for the services which have not yet been rendered to the community: services to women who have suffered from violence; social rehabilitation services provided to alcoholics and drug-addicts; day centre services to the elderly people; professional training services to mentally disordered people.

After a successful participation at the competition, together with the other 5 municipalities, high quality social services were organized together with the World Bank and also the SwedishAgency of Investments and Development (SIDA), which financed training courses for workers in Vilnius. This pilot project has influenced spreading of wide community service network in the Lithuanian municipalities and has made more active NGO's, also it has deepened community social cohesion.

One more important step made by Lithuania while implementing gender equality policy, was to pass the Gender Equality Law and to establish the Controller's position. Presently, Vilnius, the first in Lithuania, together with Oslo work on the common Gender Equality project. City of Vilnius has appointed a person responsible for the control of gender equality. Therefore, Vilnius Municipality became the first to initiate effective implementation of the Gender Equality Law on the municipal level.

Seeking to do away with isolation and to ensure effective integration to the community, Vilnius cooperates with Helsinki in creating environment adapting strategy. Using Finish methodics, at present the evaluation of public buildings is carried out by a group of physically disabled persons. Social workers of Vilnius develop very good relations with the cities of Erfurt, Aalborg and Oslo.

After restoration of independence, Vilnius gets back its historical features. Receptive to positive experience of different nations, it has become a city open to co-operation, seeking to adopt the progressive experience of the Baltic and other European countries, also to actively participate in the decision making process on European social policy.