The Attica Region has secured €22.8 million from new NSRF funds to provide 9,057 vouchers to 6.592 families, for the integration of children and adolescents with disabilities in pre-school education and creative employment structures, as well as 2.3 million euros for 1,982 beneficiaries, in order to join open structures and social reintegration programs to combat addictions.
The Regional Governor, Nikos Hardalias, by whose decision the above actions were included in the “Attica” 2021-2027 Programme, said. For us, caring for society is the most basic investment and the biggest bet of our policy.”
As Mr. Chardalias underlined: “We have in our hands the valuable financial tool of the new NSRF, amounting to 1.6 billion euros, from which we are drawing 409.5 million euros for the next few years to strengthen social cohesion, offering equal opportunities to every citizen. It is our self-evident duty to offer children and adolescents with disabilities equal access to all levels of education, but also the possibility of creative employment, so that they can develop their skills and integrate smoothly into society. It also goes without saying that we must support every person who is fighting the battle with addictions, so that they can walk the road of life again with strength. We are putting our basic promise into practice: to ensure in every possible way a better quality of life for all, without exclusions and exceptions.”
Through the action “Promotion and support for children to join pre-school education and for paccess of school-age children, adolescents and persons with disabilities to creative employment services”, for the school year 2024 – 2025, places are secured for preschool-aged children with disabilities in corresponding care structures (Infant, Nursery and Childcare Centers, Integrated Care Nursery Centers), as well as places in Creative Employment Centers for Children and People with Disabilities (K.D.D.A.P.A.D.A.M.A.) for children, adolescents and people with motor or sensory disabilities. The beneficiary of the program is the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Local Government S.A.
At the same time, the operation “Continuation of actions/structures for the development of services for the treatment of addiction” funds open structures and programs for the fight against addiction, prevention, treatment and social reintegration. More specifically, this program supports the Physical Detoxification Unit and the actions of the Social Entrepreneurship structures of the Athens Psychiatric Hospital, as well as the mobile Direct Access and Support Unit, the Unit for people with mental co-morbidity and the Social Integration Program of the Center for the Treatment of Addicted People (KETHEA).