Proceedings from the scientific conference Community Planning of Social Services in Ružomberok, held on October 5, 2010. Foreword

The preparation and creation of a community plan (CP), as well as the community development of the city itself, is a lengthy and demanding process. Since legislation requires municipalities to create conditions to support community development in the area of social services in order to prevent the emergence or worsening of adverse social situations, as well as to address local social problems, the city of Ružomberok proceeded to develop a community plan of social services. The community plan, which builds on the city's economic and social development plan, aims to map local specifics and citizen needs in the area of social services and also to set short-term city goals. The plan determines development priorities so that the overall result achieves the long-term visions of the city's social services development, which will gradually assist various areas of public life.

A community is a fellowship – the social coexistence of people. A city with its citizens is such a community. The city leadership cares about its citizens – about its community, therefore on September 22, 2010, the Municipal Council in Ružomberok approved the planning of social services using the method of community planning pursuant to Act No. 448/2008 Coll. on Social Services and in accordance with the methodology for community planning.

Community planning of social services is one of the basic methods of managing development processes, by which it is possible to plan social services in the city so that they correspond to the requirements and needs of our citizens. It is a planning method in which the public itself directly participates, that is, those who are directly affected. The task of the process is to strengthen the social cohesion of all city residents and to prevent social exclusion or isolation of vulnerable individuals or certain social groups.

For the set goals to become reality, it is necessary to create appropriate tools. Above all, it is necessary to develop a quality analysis of the needs that must be met for individual social or disadvantaged groups. This needs analysis will be the starting point for planning social services at the level of our city.

Community planning is an open process and it does not end with the development of the community plan, but continuously identifies needs and seeks the best solutions in this area. Since a large group of citizens from among experts and the public participates in the preparation and creation of the CP, without whom we would not have been able to prepare this document, allow me to also thank in this way all who voluntarily became involved in this process. My great gratitude goes especially to the Institute of Social Sciences and the Department of Public Administration and Law at the Faculty of Education of the Catholic University in Ružomberok for their active and proper cooperation.

Ing. Dagmar Majeríková Head of the Department of Social Affairs and Culture of the City of Ružomberok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part One The Process of Community Planning of Social Services

Irena Kamanová: The Process of Community Planning and Social Services

Jozef Mulík: Community Planning of Social Services

Oľga Okálová – Miroslav Pilát: Participants in Community Planning of Social Services

Miroslava Tokovská: Introduction of the CAF Self-Assessment Tool as a Basis for Improving and Expanding Social Services

Emília Janigová – Viera Bednárová: Community Planning in Dolný Kubín

Gabriela Saxová – Quality of Leadership – A Fundamental Principle in Improving Services

Part Two Target Groups of Community Planning of Social Services

Kristína Račková: Cooperation and the Importance of Social Institutions as a Tool for Implementing Community Planning in Drug Addiction Prevention

Roman Bartoš: Community Planning of Social Services for Marginalized Roma Communities

Michaela Šavrnochová: Social Counseling in the Area of Alcohol Addiction

Janka Šolcová: Volunteering and the Possibilities of Its Potential in Community Work

Daniel Markovič – Katarína Markovičová: Career Counseling and the Labor Market in Ružomberok

Anna Paločková: Music Therapy and Art Therapy as Support Activities in a Preventive Program within Community Planning

Compiled by doc. PhDr. Irena KAMANOVÁ, PhD. Mgr. Daniel MARKOVIČ

VERBUM – Publishing House of the Catholic University in Ružomberok Námestie Andreja Hlinku 60, 034 01 Ružomberok ISBN 978-80-8084-661-9