Transitions Online_Around the Bloc-Europe’s Child Poverty Hot Spots
Risk of poverty is high in Balkans, Baltics, and southern Europe, while Slovenia and Czech Republic are doing better.
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Risk of poverty is high in Balkans, Baltics, and southern Europe, while Slovenia and Czech Republic are doing better.
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The author claims that classical liberalism solely recognizes the individualist perspective of maximizing individual profit and totally bypasses the issue of solidarity. Only as the consequence of workers’ movement and the Marxist critique of the freewheeling market did the welfare state emerge to make up for the lack of solidarity. The welfare state, however, is based on a combination of the opposing principles: freedom and social justice, the state of law and social responsibility, the right to an unfettered individual development and the limitations to individual freedom through welfare institutions. The contradictions and the crisis of the welfare state have resulted in a series of criticisms. Contrary to the liberal and social-democratic critique, the author bases his position on the precepts of a bourgeois society as an ambience of civic solidarity. Such an attitude takes the civic responsibility for granted not only regarding legal and political but also social prerequisites for practising civic autonomy.
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The knock-on effects of the social chaos in the 1990s will depress population growth for years to come, Russia’s economy minister says.
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In this study, general health policies from past to present are examined in detail. In the present study, it is intended to introduce which health policies solve the health problems in what level. While doing so, health policies are categorized periodically and detailed in terms of developmental stages in healthcare. The study has a qualitative style, and the Comparison Method has been made use of. In the study, healthcare is compared from past to present. It is concluded that the Health Transformation Program, (HTP) founded with the purpose of ethic approach and aimed that all people reach qualified healthcare equally, is improvable, sustainable and is related to the socio-economic realities of the country. The study is important in that it investigates the healthcare policies in which socio-economic precautions are taken and efforts are given by categorizing the periods, and reaches important results.
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Strategic roadmaps of national economy and its basic sectors are called to provide an economic competitiveness, its inclusion and increasing of social welfare because of the sustainable economic development of Azerbaijan. Because of investment mobilization, a positive environment for free competitiveness, an access to markets and growth of human`s asset, Azerbaijan will reinforce its positions in the World Economy and become one of the most developed country as a response to global challenges. In this article, you will find an analysis of economic situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, also a research of accepted “Road maps”.
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The beginnings of diaconate in the Church belong to the period of the first community of believers in Jerusalem. The Christians from Jewish communities found it important to take care of the poor, orphans and widows, such as it was the case already in the Old Testament tradition. Moreover, Jesus Christ presented himself as the one who serves and invites his disciples not to be served but rather to serve themselves. Thus in the first Christian centuries the diaconate developed as an autonomous degree of ministering priesthood which focused mainly on charitable and social work. The examples of several blessed deacons manifest well the significant place they occupy in the Church, where they manage its property that is the base for those in need. As the Church was gaining its liberty, the social and charitable dimensions of the diaconate have gradually been on decline and the liturgical function stands out that has been set up in the Christian East. On the other hand, in the Christian West the permanent diaconate practically dies out and its social and charitable service is taken over by monasteries and later by monastic orders and congregations which specialize in some forms of charity and social service. The Second Vatican Council renewed the permanent diaconate also in the Latin Church, emphasizing that it is the first degree of ordination, which is to say, that it drew it into the line of the priestly ordination in persona Christi. It turns back to the beginnings of the Church stressing the original functions and assignations of the deacons. Particularly in our milieu, where the activity of holy orders was forcifully interrupted for 40 years and the activity of the Catholic Charity was reduced and deformed to self-liquidation of the Church, it is important to rediscover the integral place of the diaconate, and of the charitable and social service in the local Church. It is characteristic that many social workers experience the need of a deeper enrooting of the social work which cannot be built only on some vague philanthrophy, but it is necessary to place it on a more solid base. And this solid base is the starting point which charitable and social work, while proclaiming good news, has had for centuries.
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The article analyzed to what extent applied European standards of quality of social services in relation to human and physical capacities in institutions of social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Presented is concept of the European social quality and European standards of quality of social services that include good management, good working conditions and good environment and investment in human capital and satisfaction of appropriate infrastructure of institutions of social protection. The methods used in the work are methods of content analysis of documents and test methods. The sample in the empirical part consisted of 133 respondents users of social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to collect data is constructed a special instrument in the form of survey questionnaires. For data analysis and testing hypothesis was used technique classification and statistical analysis of data, using the statistical package SPSS. Based on the analysis of the empirical results, it has been concluded that the working and physical conditions in the institutions of the social protection system of Bosnia and Herzegovina have not been sufficiently developed in relation to the European standards of quality of social services and that there is a need for their further improvement.The article analyzed to what extent applied European standards of quality of social services in relation to human and physical capacities in institutions of social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Presented is concept of the European social quality and European standards of quality of social services that include good management, good working conditions and good environment and investment in human capital and satisfaction of appropriate infrastructure of institutions of social protection. The methods used in the work are methods of content analysis of documents and test methods. The sample in the empirical part consisted of 133 respondents users of social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to collect data is constructed a special instrument in the form of survey questionnaires. For data analysis and testing hypothesis was used technique classification and statistical analysis of data, using the statistical package SPSS. Based on the analysis of the empirical results, it has been concluded that the working and physical conditions in the institutions of the social protection system of Bosnia and Herzegovina have not been sufficiently developed in relation to the European standards of quality of social services and that there is a need for their further improvement.
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The strategic documents of the European Union especially emphasized the need to develop policy towards vulnerable population by the year 2020, in order to facilitate their equal participation in the society. Considering minimum income support programs in Europe, basic programs which are directed towards the population at risk of poverty and social exclusion, it is estimated that a significant portion of the citizens do not apply for rights presumed to be eligible. Obstacles to accessing social benefits of the minimum income support programs reduces its effectiveness, therefore subject of analysis in this paper is the implementation of legally formulated social rights of national states in this area. The main research question is what are the causes of the phenomenon of non-take-up in the context of exercising the right to social benefits? The aim of this study is to determine whether and how the means-tested social benefits contribute to the phenomenon of non-take-up in access to social rights under minimum income schemes in European states. Taking into account the factors at the level of the scheme design and administration of right, findings lead to conclusion that non-take-up is linked to schemes that consist: means-testing, discretionary benefits, conditionality rules and low amounts of social benefits. The results of the research indicate the need for reforms of existing practices which hinder access to social rights in social security systems.
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Social inclusion is a opposite term of the social exclusion. In this regard, that means inability to accomplish social, economic and political rights. In addition to determining the concepts of social inclusion, the paper presents a shorter historical overview of the situation of persons with disabilities, and analyzes the overall state of the problem of social inclusion of this population in Bosnian & Hercegovina society. In this context in this paper also were analyzed segments related to: independent living and community involvement, training and rehabilitation, work and employment, living standards and social protection, and participation in political, public, cultural life, recreation, leisure and sporting populations disability.
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Among the key determinants of the profession of social work is the provision of assistance andempowerment of people with mental health disorders. The fact that social workers meet with patientsdiagnosed with some forms of mental disorders on a daily basis needs to find the most appropriateapproach to improve the quality of life of the patients, which places social workers on new challengesthat they will try to respond in the coming period. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role ofsocial workers in dealing with patients with mental disorders, the most commonly encountereddifficulties and the most important of their resources in dealing with these patients. Social workers areincreasingly recognized as important members of the team, working with people with various forms ofmental disorders. The implementation of social work in health care institutions is very often closelyrelated to social psychiatry, most often in the area of sociocultural processes and mental illness. Socialworkers are obliged to provide expert opinion to the patient and his / her family and to show appropriateskills in the intervention of social relations between the patient and the family. Social contact withpersons with mental disorders should take place in the direction of reducing the negative attitude of theenvironment, eliminating stigmatizing factors. Based on this, we can expect significantly better resultsin recognizing the disease and early diagnosis, treatment and ultimate outcome of better qualityintegration of people with mental disorders in the society. Particularly important integration componentin the environment is work. Functional functioning is the fundamental basis of psychiatric rehabilitationas it promotes activity and social contacts, as well as self-esteem and quality of life, leading to socialintegration and independence, which is one of the essential components for successful recovery of thepatient. The discussion on this topic seeks to contribute to the further strengthening of the professionalidentity of social work, which is currently unfavorable, giving this profession an inadequate role withina relatively narrow space between administrative and psychosocial action.
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In 2005, the Family Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina reformed the institute for thereconciliation of spouses by introducing a mediation institute as a mandatory condition for initiating adivorce procedure. According to the provisions of the Family Law of the Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina, the guardianship authority is only one in a wide range of authorized legal and naturalpersons in the family mediation procedure. If the attempt to reconcile the spouses does not succeed, therole of the natural or legal person authorized to mediate is to mediate in reaching an agreement on theachieving of parental responsibility about their underage children, the child maintenance, the conditionsand the manner of maintaining personal relationships and direct contacts of the child with a parent whodoes not have parental responsibility, and supporting a spouse. In case the spouses do not reach anagreement or the same is not in the child’s interest (if another legal entity or a physical person in theFBiH has been a mediator), the guardianship authority can, on an official duty or at the request of anauthorized person, temporarily, until the dissolution of the divorce proceedings, decide on these issues.A survey conducted in the centers for social work in the area of the Tuzla Canton in May 2016 aimedto examine the attitudes/perceptions of professional workers in the centers for social work about therole of the Center for Social Work as a guardianship body in the family meditation procedure.
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Job Satisfaction at Labor Offices of the Czech Republic from the Policy Alienation Perspective. The article deals with job satisfaction at public professionals who implement public policy and interact with clients on a regular basic. The goal is not based only on general job satisfaction but also on revealing whether job (dis)satisfaction is influenced by policy powerlessness and meaningless which are produced by top-down policy-making without discussion and communication. Particularly, the article deals with job satisfaction at employees of labor offices who have experience with the reform of this institution and who do not have it. Our research is based on interactive approach which include job characteristics, organizational characteristics and personal characteristics, and on theory of policy alienation. Our results of the questionnaire survey (N=1334) indicate that way of policy-making can lead employees to long-term consequences for their feelings and evaluation of job satisfaction. Sociológia 2018, Vol. 50 (No. 2: 119-148)
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The paper proposes to unravel stories as an alternative method in social work intervention by featuring stories as an instrument of evaluation, an intervention technique, a way of creating a therapeutic atmosphere and, not least, as a linchpin for change. Each story has a “moral” conveyed in various ways; sometimes it is visible, some other times it is disguised or barely insinuated. This value of stories makes them usable in family and child social work: they have an exploratory role, of understanding a situation, of describing a process experienced by families and children or that they will experience, or of finding a solution for a particular situation. Stories must be adapted to the life situation of child and family; they may even be used in the adoption process, to explain to a child what adoption means. They may also be used in the field of foster care, to show the role of foster families and of the biological family, in the process of placing a child in a foster care centre. They may also be used when a child experiences conflicting moments.
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One of the big challenges for any european welfare states is growing numbers of retired old people. Starting with a typical norwegian case the article turn on to a description of the nordic welfare model, the description is on an institutional level. The institutional aspects are put forward in a discussion of the micromotives and cultural background. The open market economy and strong individualism are important characteristics. The last theme is user influence and participation. Users can enforce their rights through representation, participation and making complaints. Sometimes also by protest and revolt, exemplified with cases from care services. Although Norway is on top on an global index of the prospects for retirement, there are still cases of lack of capacity and quality. The policy at the moment is to stimulate both old and others to take responsibility themselves. Staying active and in good health in the earlier old age and for people in the working ages to get out of any unemployment que by changing their competencies. To stay passive on welfare benefits should not be an option.
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The involvement of beneficiaries of social or medical care services in the design, provision and evaluation of services is an accepted and used practice. A number of steadily growing studies show encouraging effects both for beneficiaries who have become care providers and for other beneficiaries. Moreover, some results suggest cost reductions and an increase in the degree of suitability of the services offered. The occupational status of peer workers varies from beneficiaries included in therapeutic programs, volunteering, to part-time or full-time employee, member of multidisciplinary intervention team (such as in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Norway). Starting from international experience and analysing national particularities, it is suggested that areas of social and / or medical care in Romania could benefit from the contribution of peer-workers.
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This study aims to gain a better understanding of the allocation of resources for social and health services. The research focused on the analysis of the personal and practical experiences of providers and beneficiaries of social and health services for elderly people and people with disabilities. We have developed a qualitative methodology based on a semi-structured interview guide to find out the views of key informants about the integrated health and welfare and well-being field, tackling service innovation and the opportunity for peer-to-peer involvement for the elderly and the disabled. We interviewed key informants from non-governmental organizations and representatives of childcare centers with deficiencies, namely homes for the elderly managed by local authorities and non-governmental organizations, as well as users and beneficiaries of social and health services (N=15). The results highlighted the need to modify the legal framework governing the provision of care services. The analysis of the data collected through interviews shows the willingness and willingness of the beneficiaries to get involved in the care process as peer peers. Future research will add more detailed arguments for this innovation in care: the involvement of former beneficiaries with multidisciplinary team experience as peer workers.
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I live in Trondheim, Norway today. I was a patient when I first heard about the concept of user involvement in services. At that time (in 2007) patient/user involvement was quite unknown in Norway, compared with today. I was one of the first in Norway who went from being a patient to be a peer worker in an ACT- team that is an outpatient psychiatric team. The team's task has been to keep in touch with patients who have no benefit from other psychiatric services. To me it has been important to share my experiences and help others in their recovery processes. I see dignity and independence for the users, as an absolute starting point, how important it is that people make sure about what their wishes are, and that they have to make their own decisions to experience their own recovery. The period as a peer worker in the ACT-team, where we use a reflective method, has brought me into many essential circumstances, and given me possibility to reflect about what it means to be a peer worker. In this article, I want to explain this role from the inside and bring forward some of the main challenges and also describe a few relevant situations I have experienced that might help to understand the role.
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Different understandings and interpretions of social justice are the subject of controversy precisely because they are impregnated, or we could even say contaminated, by various interest expectations and ideological meanings and readings. This paper focuses on the issue of sustainability of various strategies for reducing inequalities within the different concepts of a democratic and socially cohesive society. The first part of the paper aims to give an insight into the different understandings of social justice and the efforts to institutionally design and implement justice. The second part gives an overview of the current attempts to stop the growth of inequality. I argue that the widespread post-democratic reduction of democracy, in addition to increased economic inequalities, leads to the erosion of legal and political equality. Consequently, the already vicious, unequal world transforms in the dystopian caricature of a just society rather than in its utopia.
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Since the 1990s there has been an increase in the share of active labour market policies comparing to passive social security benefits in the case of unemployment. Тhis trend has been recorded across all European states that have restructured social rights in various ways, but this restructuring have had in common linkage between the right to unemployment benefits with minimum income support programs in the recent years. he tradition of activation policy from the United Kingdom implied strong focus on inclusion effectiveness in the labour market, using activation measures such as reducing of unemployment benefits and increase of benefits conditionality, as well as job counseling. After the economic crisis in 2008, the same political response was observed, with program reforms conducted in order to link unemployment benefits to compulsory participation in activation measures and to make them part of the minimum income support scheme. In Germany, employment subsidies, job creation and practices were recorded, along with the abovementioned active measures. The beginning of the economic crisis in 2008 brings unclear differentiation between contributory and non-contributory social rights in Germany, therefore these programs for unemployed are now non-contributory programs financed from taxes, while classical social assistance is granted only to people who are incapable of work. Benefits from programs are conditioned by participation in activation measures and contain various sanctions in case of violation. The same is recorded in Denmark, whose system was reformed towards division of rights for unemployed who have paid their contributions and those who did not. Those who are not insured have access to social assistance that is directly related to activation measures, with a different sanction for noncompliance - reduction or cancellation of monetary compensation. States responded to the crisis in accordance with institutional assumptions that ensured continuity in their policies, while on the other side, incoherences included change from traditional to neoliberal response patterns in labour market policies in all observed countries.
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The aim of this study was to examine how social support measured as the subjective assessment of social support adequacy given by family, friends or significant others contributes to well-being (happiness, life satisfaction and domain satisfactions)across the life span. The study was conducted on a representative sample of the Croatian adult population (N = 1.000).For the purpose of analyses the sample was divided into three age groups: 18 to 40 years, 41 to 60 years, and 60+ years. The results were analyzed by means of multiple group structural equation modeling, which was performed separately for two measures of subjective well-being (SWB – a general measure of life satisfaction and happiness, PWI – domain satisfactions). The results showed that in all three age groups, among three sources of social support only the perceived social support from friends was significantly related to both subjective well-being measures. Participants who perceived adequate social support from friends expressed higher levels of subjective well-being.
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