The article explores the process of deinstitutionalization (DI) as a central challenge of contemporary social policy in Europe, with a special focus on Poland as an example of good practices for Ibero-American countries. DI means shifting from institutional, centralized care toward community- and family-based services, enabling people in need—such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those in crisis of homelessness —to remain in their natural environments. The Polish case shows that implementing DI requires coordinated strategies, investment in human capital, digitalization, and multi-sectoral cooperation. Large-scale studies conducted by Janusz Korczak University in Warsaw, done in 2023–2024, involved over 8,000 participants and identified key areas: foster care, support for people with disabilities, mental health, homelessness, and elderly care.
