Social work in community in the conditions of war social work in the community in the conditions of war

Анотація

During times of war, professional social work expands its directions, methods, and forms of operation. On one hand, it is grounded in years of experience, including international experience, and on the other hand, it gives rise to the phenomenon of Ukrainian social work based on principles of moral duty, mutual support, and the dedication of each citizen, combined with the professional activities of social work specialists.

It has been established that the primary method of social work is community engagement. An important characteristic of social work in the community is the spontaneous combination of citizens' philanthropy as a moral duty and the aspiration to do good with the professional activities of social workers. This experience, from the phenomenological approach perspective, is shaped based on Ukrainian traditions, developed in crisis conditions through critical thinking, emergency decision-making, grounded in human-centric values, enthusiasm, benevolence, compassion, and patriotism.

It has been determined that during wartime, social work in the community typically operates on four levels: social work at the level of local self-government bodies; social work at the level of territorial communities; social work at the level of institutions in the social sphere; and social work at the level of community residents. The partners of territorial communities are public volunteer organisations. The Law of Ukraine "On Social Services" specifies that the non-governmental sector is among the providers of social services. In such challenging times for the country, volunteers constitute a distinct force of charity: they collect and provide clothing, medicines, and food for vulnerable populations; organize and accommodate refugees; offer assistance to military personnel and their families; facilitate the relocation of the affected; and supply essential items to the front lines, equipment,  delivering mosquito nets, food, clothing, medicines and more.