Specialized Foster Care as System Approach, Deinstitutionalization of Social Protection in Case of Adults with Developmental Difficulties in the Republic of Srpska – a Case Stady

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus its entities, has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In spite of that fact, adults with developmental disabilities daily face stigma and barriers in exercising their fundamental rights. Due to the inability of independent functioning, as well as the inability of the family to care for adults with developmental disabilities, a big number are placed in residential care. Foster care as a form of care in System of social protection can be functional for avoiding institutionalization, insurance of social inclusion of adults with disabilities, and enable them to function independently. Specialized foster care is one of the possible solutions in the deinstitutionalization of adults with developmental disabilities who are placed in residential care. This paper is focused on the particularities of specialized foster care for adults with developmental disabilities in the Republic of Srpska, which is regulated by the Social Protection Law and the foster care Rule book. Foster care, in terms of the Law, implies takin care the care users in the family that provides fulfillments of basic needs, family that takes care of the person and helps in the rights exercise and the obligations fulfillment. This normative definition of foster care opens space for adults and the elderly foster care, which is not developed nor sufficiently represented in the countries of the region, Europe and the world as well. Foster care for adults with disabilities in the Republic of Srpska is performing through a form of specialized foster care. This paper presents case studie of the specialized foster care as a posibility for adequate care of adults with developmental disabilities, with special points to the ability of supporting deinstitutionalization through specialized foster care. This case study is an example of a systemic approach to deinstitutionalization of adults with developmental disabilities. The study and results that were presented in the case has shown that it is possible to perform the deinstitutionalization of persons with developmental disabilities after twenty years spent in an institution.