Introduction of social services for citizens of the Municipality of Centar

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The initially adopted programme covered five social services. Three were launched in the first quarter, using all initially allocated funds. A budget reallocation approved by the Municipal Council on 30 June 2026 (interrupted session) and continued on 14 July 2026 allocated an additional MKD 2.5 million to implement the remaining two services. The total budget now amounts to MKD 5.5 million.

Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality held on 29 August 2026.
Email correspondence dated 2 September 2026.
Amendments and supplements to the Programme dated 14 July 2026.

On 24 September 2026, a public call was launched following amendments to the Programme and the revised budget, covering two additional social services:
• Support for Every Child – provision of personal assistants in kindergartens.
• A Speech Therapist in Every Kindergarten – provision of professional speech and language therapy support.
The call remains open for a period of 10 days.

https://www.centar.gov.mk/medija/soopshtenija-javen-povik/260924-j-v-e-n-p-o-v-i-k-za-pribirane-barana-za-koristene-sredstva

During the previous monitoring period (1 April–30 June 2026), all necessary conditions were established to launch three services under the measure. During the current period (1 July–30 September 2026), the measure was amended by a Programme amendment adopted by Centar Municipal Council on 14 July 2026. Implementation arrangements remain unchanged, with services delivered by contracted external operators. The new selection process for service providers is underway.

• Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality held on 29 August 2026.
• Email correspondence dated 2 September 2026.
• Amendments and supplements to the Programme dated 14 July 2026.
• Official public call published on Centar Municipality’s website: https://www.centar.gov.mk/medija/soopshtenija-javen-povik/260924-j-v-e-n-p-o-v-i-k-za-pribirane-barana-za-koristene-sredstva

The following services are currently being provided under this measure:
1. Individualised services offering children with disabilities access to computers and the internet using assistive technology.
2. Psychosocial, psychotherapeutic and psychiatric support, personal development activities, and community integration.
3. Psychosocial, psychotherapeutic and special education support, personal development activities, and community integration.
Four providers are implementing the measure: Open the Windows Association for Assistive Technology; HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje; the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of North Macedonia; and Interaction Plus – Association for Inclusion, Creativity and Initiatives, Skopje.
All four providers have received 50% of their contracted funding and commenced activities. The monitoring team met with two providers. The Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals delivered introductory training for kindergarten staff in Centar Municipality, informed parents about available support, and developed a platform for requesting assistance. Open the Windows provides two one-hour sessions weekly to 10 children from the Municipality and also engages with their families and school communities.
These activities align with the planned social services under Centar Municipality’s 2026 Programme for Health Care, Social Protection and Child Protection. Payments are being made in accordance with the signed contracts.

• Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality held on 29 August 2026.
• Email correspondence dated 2 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of the Republic of North Macedonia held on 24 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the Open the Windows Association for Assistive Technology held on 7 September 2026.

During this quarter, Centar Municipality’s Facebook page published one update related to the monitored measure, concerning training delivered by the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals to kindergarten staff as part of the early intervention service. The Municipality’s website also published a public call following the addition of two new social services. According to Open the Windows, user-related activities are not publicised due to their sensitive nature

Minutes of the meeting with the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of the Republic of North Macedonia held on 24 September 2026.
Minutes of the meeting with the Open the Windows Association for Assistive Technology held on 7 September 2026.
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FS7EQsxeX/
Centar Municipality’s public call: https://www.centar.gov.mk/medija/soopshtenija-javen-povik/260924-j-v-e-n-p-o-v-i-k-za-pribirane-barana-za-koristene-sredstva

During the reporting period, no requests for access to public information concerning the monitored measure were recorded. Such requests are generally submitted to Centar Municipality only rarely. In cases where requests for access to public information have been submitted in the past, the Municipality has responded through various communication channels, including email, written correspondence by post, and meetings with the applicants.

• Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality held on 29 August 2026
• Email correspondence dated 28 September 2026

Centar Municipality continued to maintain open communication regarding the monitored measure. During the reporting period, on 29 August 2026, a meeting was held with the monitoring team of the National Network “Women for Women” (NNWW), the Head of the Social Work Department, and several members of the department’s team. The discussion focused on the progress of the measure’s implementation, with the exchange of information continuing via email.
According to information provided by the Municipality and the service providers, the Municipality maintains regular communication and holds meetings with the providers, although the exact number of meetings is unknown. No information is available on meetings held with citizens regarding the measure, nor has any such information been published on the Municipality’s Facebook page.

Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality held on 29 August 2026

Centar Municipality maintains direct and ongoing communication with both social service providers and service users. The programme was developed in response to the needs of Centar Municipality’s residents, who were directly involved in the process, as noted in the April–June report.
During the current quarter, representatives of the “Open the Windows” Assistive Technology Association confirmed that they had participated in designing the measure. In its written response by email, the Municipality stated that it maintains direct and ongoing communication with users and providers of existing social services. While this confirms communication during implementation, it does not provide specific information on users’ participation in decision-making.
For the two new services, information is to be disseminated through public kindergartens once the service providers have been selected.

• Email correspondence dated 28 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of the Republic of North Macedonia, held on 24 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the “Open the Windows” Assistive Technology Association, held on 7 September 2026.

During the reporting period, no petitions or specific civic initiatives related to the measure were submitted.

Email correspondence dated 28 September 2026.

During the reporting period, no dedicated public gathering focused exclusively on the measure was organised. Target groups are informed through direct communication channels within kindergartens and schools, as confirmed by the service providers.
According to the field survey conducted by the National Network “Women for Women,” 23.7% of respondents had attended an event organised by Centar Municipality, while 76.3% had not. Among those who answered positively, 40% identified a public forum and 10% a public hearing. These responses refer to municipal events in general and do not confirm participation in any public gathering, debate, or forum specifically related to the measure during the reporting period.

Email correspondence dated 28 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of the Republic of North Macedonia, held on 24 September 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the “Open the Windows” Assistive Technology Association, held on 7 September 2026.

As noted in the previous reporting period (1 April–30 June 2026), the Municipality provides opportunities for electronic participation and communication through its website and digital channels; however, no dedicated channel is available for the monitored measure. Citizens’ interest in and use of these mechanisms remain low, a trend that applies to municipal programmes in general.
During the current quarter, the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals reported that the platform http://www.ranaintervencija.mk had been developed, enabling parents to request assistance and support through the early intervention service.

• Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality, dated 29 August 2026.
• Minutes of the meeting with the Association of Special Educators and Rehabilitation Professionals of the Republic of North Macedonia, dated 24 September 2026.

As reported in the previous reporting period (1 April–30 June 2026), the Municipality does not have a formally designated “open day” during the week. Citizens can contact the relevant municipal departments directly on any working day to request information, ask questions, or seek consultations. No information was received during the current reporting period indicating any change in this practice.
According to the field questionnaire conducted by the National Network “Women for Women,” among respondents who answered affirmatively regarding the type of event they had attended, 20% reported participating in an open day. This figure relates to municipal events in general and does not confirm participation in an open day specifically related to the monitored measure during the reporting period.

Minutes of the meeting with Centar Municipality, dated 29 August 2026.