Publication authors: Mgr. ANASTAZIJ MOMOT and PhDr. BOHUSLAV KUZYŠIN, PhD. Preface The existence of excluded communities in the Central European region is associated with the most acute social difficulties. Solutions to the accumulated social problems have remained for a long time on the margins of both assistance and professional interest. In Slovakia, so-called Romani issues were deeply underestimated and were limited to formalized forms of theoretical concepts and programs without substantive application in practice. The publication we present comes at a sensitive time of numerous changes. The dynamism with which this field of social work is developing reflects a high degree of progressiveness in implementation and funding through structural funds. Our aim is to point out some aspects of these processes. This publication is focused on analyzing the current state of field social work with excluded communities in Slovakia from the perspective of institutional and personnel structures and from the standpoint of resource funding and scientific interest.

Field social work is a relatively new sphere of interest for experts in Slovakia. The number of research activities naturally reflects this fact. We set ourselves the task of carrying out a systematic review of research outputs, which we modified for the purpose of evaluative analysis.

Contents

  1. GENERAL TERMINOLOGICAL AND THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS 1.1. Social exclusion and historico-cultural discourse as starting points for field social work 1.2. Target group of field social work - excluded community 1.3. Field social work and social work 1.4. Field social work and community social work through the lens of excluded communities 1.5. Community social work 1.5.1. Community - definition and typology 1.5.2. Community social work - definition and characteristics 1.5.3. Community social work in Slovakia - focused on work with minority (marginalized) community 1.5.4. Funding of community social work

  2. STRUCTURAL IMPLEMENTATION OF FIELD SOCIAL WORK WITH EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES IN SLOVAKIA 2.1. Comparative aspects of demand-driven projects and the national project Field social work in municipalities 2.2. Institutional and staffing support for field social work 2.2.1. Provision of field social work through demand-driven projects 2.2.2. Provision of field social work through the national project Field social work in municipalities 2.3. Financing field social work 2.4. Some limits and visions of the national project Field social work in municipalities

  3. IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF FIELD SOCIAL WORK WITH EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES IN SLOVAKIA 3.1. Aims of qualitative research 3.2. Methodology of the conducted research 3.3. Formulation of the research problem 3.4. Data collection 3.5. Presentation of results 3.6. Analysis and interpretation (SWOT analysis)

Among the most developed areas of research on excluded communities are the differences with the wider majority environment. In this context, a new opportunity for interdisciplinary participation and the application of social and cultural anthropology knowledge in practice emerges through methods of applied social work. New challenges arise for education and shaping the professional profile of TSP/ATSP, which must necessarily be based on a research background.

The measurability and effectiveness of the implementation of field social work is relative. There is a lack of relevant modified social inclusion indicators for the field of field social work, to which methodology and the totality of their activity must be linked. It is necessary to overcome the perception problem of excluded communities being homogeneous and to explicitly define and standardize TSP/ATSP activities.

The effectiveness of structural changes in the overall functioning of field work will only be evaluable in a number of years, perhaps even decades. The aim of our publication was to create a synthesizing whole that provides a stimulus for a deeper understanding of the fact that the beginning of inclusive activity requires setting the parameters as best as possible. Hidden behind the tangle of numbers and formulations is the person and human condition. These challenges intensify mainly against a backdrop of negative and resigning moods in society.

Reviewers: Doc. PhDr. Mária MACHALOVÁ, CSc PhDr. Jozef VOROBEL, PhD.

Publisher: Prešovská univerzita v Prešove, Pravoslávna bohoslovecká fakulta, Prešov 2012 Number of pages: 73 ISBN 978-80-555-0684-5