From June 5th to 9th 2025, the CCP staff actively engaged in several key events. This included the V Forum of Leaders of Organizations Providing Residential Social Services for Children with Mental Disorders, as well as an interdepartmental meeting with representatives from the Ministries of Labor and Social Security, Healthcare, and Education. They also conducted site visits to regional social service organizations, met with NGO representatives, and led training seminars on alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).
The “We Are Responsible for Our Children” Forum serves as a crucial gathering, uniting leaders from residential social care facilities for children with mental disorders across Russia. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Russian Federation, the Foundation for Support of Children in Difficult Life Situations, and the Ministry of Social Development, Guardianship and Trusteeship of the Irkutsk Region. The CCP proudly partnered with other foundations to support the Forum. A delegation of CCP experts— Anna Bitova, Chairman of the Board and member of the Council on issues of guardianship in the social sphere under the Government of the Russian Federation; Alexandra Fadina, Executive Director; Anna Lebed, PhD in Law; and Olga Karanevskaya, PhD in Pedagogy, special educator and Associate Professor at the Institute of Psychology and Integrated Rehabilitation of the Moscow State Pedagogical University— moderated and contributed their expertise to the Forum’s discussions, meetings, seminars, and training sessions.
During the discussion platform, “Should Children from Families Be Placed in Residential Social Care Facilities?”, Anna Bitova explored the complex factors leading to children’s placement in orphanages and residential facilities and discussed potential strategies for overcoming these circumstances and facilitating reunification with their families.
The CCP experts also facilitated discussions on critical issues and shared best practices aimed at enhancing the skills of professionals and improving the quality of care provided to children with developmental disabilities. The broad range of topics addressed included: nutritional strategies for children with body mass deficits, inter-agency collaboration within early intervention programs, support systems for individuals with disabilities, the imperative for psychiatric care reform, and the utilization of alternative and augmentative communication methods.
On June 9th, a high-level interdepartmental meeting convened, bringing together representatives from the Center for Curative Pedagogics and key Ministries, including Labor and Social Security, Healthcare, and Education. Chaired by Vladimir Rodionov, Minister of Social Development, Guardianship, and Trusteeship of the Irkutsk Region, the discussion focused on addressing the challenges and identifying opportunities for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities residing in residential social care facilities across the Irkutsk Region. Participants placed particular emphasis on expanding access to alternative social services and diverse living arrangements within the region. A key outcome of the meeting was a proposal to explore a formal agreement between the CCP and the Ministry of Social Development, Guardianship, and Trusteeship of the Irkutsk Region. This agreement would prioritize the interests of both children and adults with mental disorders and facilitate the delivery of targeted training programs for professionals working with this population, whether they reside in residential care facilities or in their own homes.
The same day, CCP experts Anna Bitova and Alexandra Fadina led a specialist roundtable addressing “Navigating Support Systems for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families: Technologies, Strategies, and Future Directions.” Fellow CCP expert Olga Karanevskaya conducted a hands-on workshop focusing on “Implementing Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Strategies in Working with Children with Severe and Multiple Developmental Disabilities (SMDD).” These sessions were skillfully organized by the Irkutsk Center for Habilitation.
Throughout their visit, the CCP team dedicated time to observing and learning from the work of various organizations in the Irkutsk Region. This included visits to the Irkutsk social rehabilitation centers “Vera” and “Bagration,” the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities, and the Social Rehabilitation Center for Minors “Malyutka” in Irkutsk, where they delivered an AAC training seminar for local specialists. Additional site visits included the Angarsk Psychoneurological Residential Facility, the Social Rehabilitation Center for Minors “Malyutka” in Angarsk, the social employment department of the Irkutsk Rehabilitation Technical School, and the Irkutsk Center for Habilitation.
This impactful trip to the Irkutsk Region was generously supported by the Presidential Grants Fund and PJSC Sberbank, enabling the CCP to further its mission of improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.