Social work and education

Ensuring the quality of social services as a task of training social workers

Olha Stoliaryk, Tetyana Semigina — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article discusses the need to reform the social services system and train social workers in Ukraine in the context of European integration. The main emphasis is placed on the importance of implementing European quality standards, in particular the European Quality Framework for Social Services. The study compares approaches to quality assurance with the European Framework, with particular emphasis on inclusivity, collaboration, and safety. An analysis of the implementation of the European framework for the quality of social services was carried out on the example of Ireland, emphasizing the voluntary nature of its use in EU member states and the individual approach of each country to the assessment of the quality of social services. The main focus is devoted to the study of the professional training of future social workers and their ability to provide high-quality social services. The need for future social work professionals to develop key competencies such as communication, empathy, management skills, and cultural competence has been identified. The integration of European standards into social work education remains a problem, so the authors emphasize the importance of adapting educational programs for training specialists using various approaches, such as project-oriented learning, case-based learning, supervision, problem-oriented learning, practical training in field conditions, simulation, and role-playing games, research projects, digital platforms, and interdisciplinary courses. These approaches contribute to the formation of a wide range of competencies that meet modern challenges and requirements of European standards. The importance of a systematic approach to the integration of European standards into educational programs for improving the quality of social services in Ukraine is emphasized.

Social and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families: reality and perspective of development

Hanna Slozanska, Nadiia Horishna, Maksym Skochko — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Social and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families are extremely relevant today at the level of territorial communities, as the number of children and families who need them is constantly growing due to the Russian war against Ukraine. Social and rehabilitation services are a group of services aimed at restoring and/or developing social skills, abilities, strengths of children and their families, social support and social services for self-realization, increasing adaptive potential and ensuring access to resources necessary to overcome challenges associated with disability and ensuring the best interests of the child. It is important that these services are provided as close as possible to the child's place of residence and are accessible and high-quality. Therefore, the study examined the realities of providing these services and projected the prospects for their development in territorial communities for the target group. The strategy of "action research with community participation" was used to design the study. The data were collected quantitatively in communities of various types and processed using SPSS. According to the results of the analysis of the data obtained, it was found that in the studied communities there is a need for social and rehabilitation services, but not all of them receive them due to various reasons: the absence of a provider, the absence of the necessary service, the absence or unprofessionalism of a specialist, low material and technical support of the provider itself. However, despite a number of problems with obtaining social and rehabilitation services, recipients still noted a sufficient level of their provision.

Regarding the prospects for the development of social and rehabilitation services, it is worth assessing the needs of residents of territorial communities in social and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families, developing a network of providers, developing mechanisms for subvention and social ordering of the specified range of services, and informing the population about the features of their provision.

Monitoring and evaluation of social rehabilitation services for children with disabilities: a structural-logical model of indicators

Nadiia Horishna, Hanna Slozanska, Zhanna Petrochko — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article presents an approach to the development of a structural-logical model of indicators for monitoring and evaluating social rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families. The relevance of this research is driven by the need to provide the population with high-quality social rehabilitation services, which can be achieved through the implementation of an effective monitoring and evaluation system. The structural-logical model of indicators, as a component of such a system, enables the planning and evaluation of social rehabilitation services, taking into account the specific needs of children with disabilities and their families, thereby facilitating informed decision-making regarding its improvement. To develop this model, a desk study was conducted, which included a search and content analysis of publications in scientometric databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, as well as the analysis, systematization, and synthesis of scientific approaches to defining areas, criteria, and indicators for monitoring and evaluating services for the specified target audience of service recipients.

The developed model combines results-based and participatory approaches, which allows not only for tracking the achievement of goals but also for ensuring the active involvement of stakeholders at all stages of the process. The key areas for evaluation include the physical condition, emotional well-being, social interactions, personal development, and protection of the rights of children with disabilities. Criteria such as relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact are employed to monitor short-term results and long-term outcomes of the services provided.

Further research should focus on the practical application of the proposed model in the activities of social rehabilitation service providers, the development of feedback mechanisms between service providers and recipients, which will allow for the adjustment of the model components and their adaptation to the local context.

Security of internally displaced persons: a comprehensive approach to protection and support

Mariia Zhinchyn — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article analyzes various types of security, such as physical, psychological, financial, social, informational and legal security, emphasizing their importance for the stability and well-being of internally displaced persons. Physical security, being a fundamental need, is viewed through the perspective of access to housing, food, medical care, and protection from violence. It is found that conducting gender safety audits is one way to enhance physical security. Psychological security highlights the necessity of psychological support and access to counseling and services that assist internally displaced persons in adapting to new living conditions and reducing stress and anxiety levels. Financial security involves access to financial resources and employment, which are essential for people's livelihoods in new environments. Social security includes ensuring social protection, access to social services, and support in cases of unemployment and disability. Informational security focuses on protecting personal data and confidential information, as well as on the skills to avoid cybercrimes and fraud. Legal security emphasizes the significance of access to legal assistance, safeguarding the rights of internally displaced persons, and ensuring that their rights are upheld. The article also explores the opportunities provided by various organizations and institutions to ensure these forms of security, stressing that creating conditions and opportunities for providing physical, psychological, financial, social, informational, and legal security to those in need is a crucial step towards successful integration and adaptation in new communities. This approach enhances the quality of life for internally displaced persons and contributes to the overall strengthening of society.

Legislative principles of organizing volunteer activities in the sphere of social protection

Oksana Kravchenko, Mykhailo Fedorov — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Abstract. The article analyzes the research of Ukrainian scientists and reveals that various aspects of the development of the volunteer movement in Ukraine are being studied, and at the same time, there is a need to generalize the activities of volunteer initiatives in the field of social protection. The purpose of the article is to carry out an analysis of the regulatory and legal support of volunteer activities in Ukraine regarding social services for vulnerable categories of citizens. Research methods are studying the materials of the official websites of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the National Social Service Organization of Ukraine, related to the activities of volunteer organizations in Ukraine. It was found that volunteer organizations are among the entities providing social services. Their activities are aimed at helping people overcome difficult life circumstances, minimize the consequences of such life circumstances, and draw society's attention through educational activities to the needs of vulnerable categories of citizens. Volunteer activity at the state level is supported not only by the existence of specific legislation, but also by the inclusion of volunteer organizations in the Register of Social Service Providers and the National Social Service Organization of Ukraine. Among the areas of activity, the Ministry of Social Policy envisages support of the volunteer movement, as well as its coordination through the formation of the Council for Coordination of Work on Providing Volunteer and Charitable Assistance. Among the main directions of state policy in the field of providing social services there is involvement of public associations, charitable and religious organizations. An important sign of the sustainability of civil society is functioning of civil society institutions, through which citizens and social groups ensure self-organization, representation, realization and protection of rights and interests. Civil society is the expression and defender of the interests and aspirations of various social groups and citizens. Civil society can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the state by providing social services. Prospects for further research are the study of foreign legislation of European countries regarding volunteering, the analysis of local documents and social programs of individual communities on the support of volunteer organizations, the generalization of their experience in social protection of vulnerable categories of citizens

Algorithmization of the provision of social rehabilitation services to children with disabilities in the Cherkask region

Maksym Skochko, Iryna Krynytska — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The team of authors conducted systematic work on the analysis of the use of the method of nonviolent communication in various areas of social work in Ukraine and other countries of the world. During the research, the team of authors relied on a comprehensive approach, comparative analysis, and a focus group study was conducted, which revealed the need to transform the social service system in this area.

The purpose of the research work is to analyze the prospects for the effective implementation The article describes the provision of social rehabilitation services to children with disabilities. The social aspect of rehabilitation work with children with disabilities is reflected. It was determined that an important role in the process of rehabilitation and adaptation of children with disabilities is played by the joint actions of pedagogical and medical workers of complex rehabilitation centers. The importance of the creation of rehabilitation institutions, the development of social rehabilitation services in united territorial communities, informing people with disabilities about such rehabilitation institutions and the timeliness of receiving them by residents of communities with disabilities in accordance with their individual rehabilitation programs is reflected. The work experience of rehabilitation institutions regarding this aspect of the problem is characterized. It was determined that children with disabilities need increased attention from the state and society, they have the right to development and should have the opportunity to obtain a profession and socialize into society. The purpose of the article is to highlight the algorithmization mechanisms of providing social rehabilitation services to children with disabilities in the Cherkasy region. To achieve the set goal, the research is based on the analysis of scientific works, methods of theoretical generalization, comparison, system approach and system analysis, which provided the opportunity to highlight leading areas of research. The research was carried out within the framework of the project "Research on the development of social rehabilitation services for children with disabilities and their families at the level of territorial communities in the war and post-war periods", financed by the National Research Fund of Ukraine. In our country, as well as throughout the world, there is a trend of increasing the number of children with functional health limitations, the frequency of childhood disability has doubled over the last decade. Disability in children means a significant limitation of life activities, it contributes to social maladjustment, which is caused by difficulties in self-care, communication, learning, mastering professional skills in the future.

Project activities of the international charitable organization «east europe foundation» for social support of internally displaced persons

Viktor Liakh, Alina Dulia — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The project activities of public organizations in Ukraine play an important role in providing social support to internally displaced persons. It not only develops a strong civil society, but also solves a number of social problems of this group of recipients of social services. Public organizations within the scope of project activities contribute to maintaining the psychological state of internally displaced persons and their adaptation to new conditions; help in defending their rights, solving legal issues and getting access to legal aid; contribute to public awareness of the problems faced by internally displaced persons and support the resolution of these issues at the level of society as a whole.

In the article, based on the experience of the Eastern Europe Foundation, the authors single out the largest programs/projects for social support of internally displaced persons. The content of the project activity was determined and its main directions regarding the social support of internally displaced persons were revealed, namely: creation of comfortable living conditions in temporary stay centers for internally displaced persons; provision of social, psychological, legal, support and humanitarian assistance; assistance in social adaptation and integration of internally displaced persons to new living conditions; development and strengthening of financial, informational and organizational capacity of civil society organizations regarding social support of internally displaced persons; support of representatives of civil society organizations and mass media during relocation; development of online courses and training programs for internally displaced persons, host communities, displaced activists, civil society organizations, authorities; mentoring support in various fields; development of electronic services and electronic democracy at the national and regional levels to improve the quality of life of Ukrainians.

Exploring the EU countries’ experience in social support for older persons

Tetyana SEMIGINA — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article presents the results of an analysis of social support systems for older persons in three EU countries: Ireland, Poland, and Croatia. The primary sources of information were official documents and statistics from government websites, supplemented by secondary analysis of reports and other studies.

The research focuses on a wide range of services, including residential geriatric care, day centers, home assistance, club programs, and initiatives aimed at the social integration of older persons. It also highlights alternative forms of care, such as placement in private households, family care homes, social housing, and specially adapted housing. Poland's experience in supporting local communities in establishing day centers and clubhouses is particularly valuable for Ukraine.

The paper discusses integrated medical-social approaches, the coordination of services by health and social policy ministries, and the role of private institutions and non-governmental organizations in providing services.

Special attention is given to regulatory mechanisms, quality standards, and transparency of information. Transparency is ensured through centralized resources where information about service providers and the possibility of applying for services is available.

The possibility of implementing the European experience at the level of territorial communities in Ukraine to improve the accessibility and quality of social services for older persons is discussed. The article suggests ways to adapt and implement European practices in the context of the Ukrainian social protection system, including the development and implementation of relevant legislative norms and standards, the development of cooperation with the private sector and non-governmental organizations, and investments in technological solutions to enhance the safety and independence of older persons.

DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER APPROACHES IN SOCIAL WORK (A REVIEW OF THE BOOK BY A. YAROSHENKO AND T. SEMIGINA “GENDER COMPETENCE IN SOCIAL WORK: HOW TO INVEST FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES INTO GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICE»)

Olena Savchuk — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Монографія «Ґендерна компетентність у соціальній роботі: Як інвестувати феміністичні погляди у ґендерно трансформаційну практику» (Ярошенко & Cемигіна, 2022) є важливим внеском у розвиток гендерної теорії та практики в соціальній роботі. В умовах сучасного суспільства, де питання гендерної рівності стають дедалі більш актуальними, особливо в контексті соціальних трансформацій і криз (Dvoriak et al., 2020), книга виступає своєрідним дороговказом для соціальних працівників, тренерів, викладачів та дослідників, зацікавлених у впровадженні гендерних підходів у свою діяльність.

Language socialization of the personality in the context of learning foreign languages

Halyna Leshchuk — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The article examines the concept of language socialization in the context of learning foreign languages. The essential characteristics of the concept of “language socialization” have been revealed, the evolution of the development of the definition and approaches to it in foreign and domestic science have been traced, in particular, it has been clarified that the process of language acquisition by an individual was initially designated by the term “speech socialization”, and later the definition “language socialization” (“language socialization”) appeared. The revealed understanding of language socialization within the framework of the scientific approach developed by D. Hymes, which examines the socialization dimensions of language practices in different language communities, asserting that language acquisition is always culturally constructed and determined by the norms, beliefs, and ideologies of one or another community. It is noted that language socialization goes beyond the cognitive study of social contexts, providing first of all the process of forming belonging to a new community. This becomes especially important when learning a foreign language as a tool for entering a new socio-cultural space. Key aspects of language socialization during foreign language learning are outlined: assimilation of language norms and rules, development of communicative competence, integration of the sociocultural context, language practice in real situations, the role of social interactions, and the formation of linguistic identity. The difficulties of language socialization: cultural barriers, psychological barriers (fear of making mistakes, feeling insecure in one's own knowledge or fear of being misunderstood), linguistic difficulties (differences in grammar and syntax) and lexical difficulties, social barriers (lack of a language environment and social isolation, can hinder effective socialization), difficulties in assimilating social norms (studying hidden social contexts, changes in one's own identity), time and resource limitations are characterized. Prospective directions for future studies of language socialization are outlined, in particular: the study of language socialization in the context of globalization, language socialization in the digital age, language socialization in the conditions of multilingualism and multiculturalism, individual and group differences in the process of language socialization, language socialization in the context of social changes, methodological innovations in the study of language socialization.