The network of social and social healthcare services is coordinated by local social service plans. In fact regional law defines a local plan as the main means of putting a social service network into effect and integrating it with healthcare.
The local plan is drawn up and approved by the Mayor if the Local Health Authority area coincides with that of the municipality, or by the Mayors' Council, according to regional health programme procedures and as acknowledged by the Local Health Authority. The stakeholders are, therefore, the Municipalities, the Provinces, the Regions and other public sectors.
The Municipalities included in areas corresponding to the Local Health Authorities represent the local community and are responsible for the administration of social services on a local level.
The Provinces carry out the local plans in areas of their concern and with their own resources. They are also involved in determining the success of promotional and social development policies. The Region, on the other hand, is involved in the development of the local plans through the Local Health Authorities, which are generally responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating social and health issues, and have a legislational and administrative role as concerns healthcare and hospital-related issues.
Finally, other public bodies involved (peripheral administrations) are from the fields of: education, law, employment, IPAB (Note 1), Mountain Communities, etc.) and they intervene to reach targets of common general interest.
Also involved are social not-for-profit organisations, cooperation organisations, associations for social improvement, foundations and social service organisations, voluntary organisations, recognised private authorities, trade union organisations, recognised bodies, as well as religious groups working in the field and with whom the State has agreements for the planning, organisation and management of its integrated system of social services and intervention.
The local plan outlines ways to combat poverty and offer support to family income, financial support to promote autonomy and care at home for dependent people, support for disadvantaged minors and the promotion of the rights of children and adolescents. Means to support family responsibilities, to help them find a balance between work commitments and family care, and to support women in difficulty are also outlined. Also envisaged are measures for the full integration of the disabled and elderly to promote homecare for them, for the promotion of social and educational services for children and adolescents, and for the fight against addictions. Finally, local plans promote information and counselling for people and families, self- and mutual-help initiatives, and actions to promote the integration of immigrants, as well as means of combating poverty and social exclusion.
The local plan organises the system into action areas which, within local and regional planning, combine different components in a single model. These include the type of social and healthcare assistance, means of assistance, whether at home or in a residential or semi-residential care home, and the public and private bodies involved in carrying out the service.
With reference to these aspects, the social service system is defined as a "network" in which there are different kinds of interaction, organisation of services, and collaboration between social, institutional and other players.
To support the social service network, in 2008 Regione Veneto allocated 780,434,000 euro to the social sector, a figure that has constantly increased through the years. This funding aims to promote activities, interventions and services concerning those who are not self-sufficient (the elderly and disabled), families, minors, young people, drug addicts and alcoholics, as well as voluntary work and the tertiary sector (Figure 14.1.1) and (Figure 14.1.2).
The analysis of budget data for 2007 reveals the distribution of spending in various areas of intervention.
Total spending is mainly allocated to the elderly (75%). Regione Veneto is committed to guaranteeing them high levels of assistance in residential establishments and through services, on a structural, organisational and professional level. It also ensures the development of a home care system, which entails interventions and services which enable a dependent person to live in their own home environment with their family.
Regional spending for disability is around 11% and aims at providing interventions and services to support those with severe disabilities, to guarantee their personal autonomy and an independent life and support for their families through day centres or residential services. Regional commitment to overcoming architectural barriers (Note 2) is also important, with the aim of enabling public and private bodies to promote accessibility and the use of places and environments.
Around 9% of spending goes to minors and families, in the shape of funding for services for children (nursery and pre-schools) and support for families so children can access services.
Four percent of spending goes to treating addictions and consists in healthcare contributions for the recovery and treatment of addicts in centres. It also finances the Local Health Authorities' three-year plans for projects aimed at prevention and treatment, plus the reintegration of drug addicts and alcoholics in the workplace and community.
Finally, though resources are limited, activity promoting authorities and bodies in the tertiary sector are particularly important. These include: voluntary associations, social advancement associations, social cooperatives, with planning approval throughout the region.
The main services concerning some sectors of the local plans are presented below. Where possible these consider the various subjects involved in their management.