Addressing those in attendance, the Uzbek ambassador to UNESCO Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, who is the founder of the mentioned Adaptation Center, noted that the attachment of an official status to social services of Uzbekistan, has been one of the major recommendations of the International Forum “From childhood to adult life: social protection, social work, social inclusion”, held by the Adaptation Center and children’ charity “You Are Not Alone”, with the support of partner organizations in November 2009. “I sincerely hope that accumulated intellectual and technical capacities of the Center in the field of social work will promote effective activities of the Sector, as well as further strengthening of the system of children’ social protection in our country” said Karimova-Tillyava.

The activities on social work development in Uzbekistan has been started by the specialists of the Adaptation Center in 2005, with the activities on developing education and practical work in this field, as well as promoting the profession of “social worker” in the country. The results were elaboration of the programme on re-training of the personnel and standards of education on social work, publication on manuals, as well as strengthening of the capacities of the personnel. Such professions as “Social worker” and “Specialist on Social Work” were officially classified by the Uzbek Ministry of Labor.

Having consulted projects on development of social work in Uzbekistan since 2007, Dr. Terry Murphy, Senior Lecturer at the School of Health and Social Care of the Teesside University (Great Britian), said: “The fact of successful primary development of social work services in Uzbekistan is recognized at the international level”.

As well, the colloquium resumed the results of the Adaptation Center’s work for 2009 and discussed the prospects on development of further measures to win through all the difficulties, faced by children of vulnerable groups.

As discussed, over 1100 children of vulnerable groups and their parents were covered by services of therapists on defects, psychologists, pedagogues, speech therapists, as well as courses of remedial gymnastics and children’s massage at the Informative & Consulting Services of the Adaptation Center in 2009.

“A total of 109 children, who could not attend schools, go to schools now, in vertue of the correctional work carried out as part of Inclusive Education Project of the Adaptation Center” said the manager of the project.

Closing the colloquium, the participants decided to focus future activities at further implementation of contemporary innovative methods of work, application of international experience on de-institutualisation, inclusive education, prevention of crime among the children of high social risk and social work.

Karimova-Tillyaeva, visiting the Adaptation Center also attended practical exercises of the Center Services, including sensor room. Talked with the participants of the Parents’ Club, who organized the exhibitions of works of children with limited abilities, attending the Adaptation Center. She was also introduced to new directions of work, such as mechano-therapy, legoland.

The National Center for Children’s Social Adaptation was established at the initiative of Uzbek ambassador to UNESCO Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva in 2004. The Adaptation Center promotes interests of children of vulnerable groups, by facilitating development of legislative acts in regards to children of vulnerable groups and improvement of provided services.