Monograph Families in Need (PDF)

The aim of the scientific monograph is to identify the situation of families living in crisis life situations and clearly process the individual features that characterize them. At the same time, evaluate the situation of families in need and assess whether help from the state and the non-profit sector is necessary. Introduction

Among the typical features of contemporary society is the rapid widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. Many families in a state of material or social need experience the feeling of losing the meaning of life. Single mothers with children, large families, widows with small children, the long-term unemployed are often depressed and lose their sense of self-worth.

Personal experiences with families in material and social need led the author to write the publication. She helped these families individually for many years. In April 2010, she decided to institutionalize her help and together with other members founded občianske združenie Maják nádeje so sídlom v Košiciach . The association was created as a response to the needs of families in need.

The publication touches on the problem of poverty and social exclusion. At the same time, it offers a perception of the poor as a being who longs for dignity despite his difficult situation.

The aim of the scientific monograph is to identify the situation of families living in crisis life situations and clearly process the individual features that characterize them. At the same time, evaluate the situation of families in need and assess whether help from the state and the non-profit sector is necessary.

The monograph consists of six chapters. The first chapter talks in general about work with the poor, about solidarity with them, motives for help and resources. The second chapter deals with the third sector here and abroad. The main content of the third chapter is the civic association Maják nadeje and the recipients to whom it dedicates its help. The specific activity of OZ Maják nadeje, aimed at mitigating and eliminating social exclusion of families, is described in detail in the fourth chapter. The fifth chapter presents the achieved results of the association for four years of its activity. A special benefit is the presentation of individual activities and activities in various areas in which the association offered its help to families, as well as the association's vision for the future. The last chapter presents the results of a quantitative survey that examined the situation of families who applied to OZ Maják nadeje for assistance.

The author drew on the works of domestic authors, especially Mydlíková - Gymerská How to be beneficial to yourself and others. Among the works of foreign authors, she most often drew on Bechyňová Sanace familia, Marynowicz Praca socjalno wychowawcza z rodziną niepełną, from Matyas from the book Dziecinstwo w kryzysie, Payne Bridges from poverty and many other authors.

Thanks to all the members of the Maják naděje association for their service to the poor without the right to a reward, but also to all those who help the association fulfill its goals with various forms of assistance. Special thanks go to the bishops of the Archdiocese of Košice, who accompany and support the civic association Maják nadeje.

1 WORKING WITH THE POOR 11 SEE THE POOR AND LOVE HIM 12 METHODS AND MOTIVES OF HELP 13 RESOURCES 14 SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

2 THIRD SECTOR 21 THE THIRD SECTOR ABROAD 22 THE THIRD SECTOR IN SLOVAKIA 23 POVERTY AND SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH 24 SAINTS AND THEIR ATTITUDE TO THE POOR

3 CIVIC ASSOCIATION LIGHTHOUSE OF HOPE 31 FOCUS OF THE ASSOCIATION 32 AID PROVIDERS 33 FAMILIES IN NEED AS ADDRESSES OF AID 34 FAMILY STRESS AND FAMILY BURDEN MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 35 SINGLE MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN AS ADDRESSES OF HELP

4 ACTIVITIES OF THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOPE ASSOCIATION 41 FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE 42 FOOD AID 43 ACTIVITIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL AREA 44 PROVISION OF SOCIAL COUNSELING 45 APOSTOLATE IN ASSOCIATION

5 RESULTS AND VISION OF THE ASSOCIATION 51 RESULTS ACHIEVED IN THE ASSOCIATION 52 PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE

6 QUANTITATIVE SURVEY 61 WORK METHODOLOGY 62 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENT SET – SURVEY SAMPLE 63 EVALUATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE 64 INTERPRETATION OF RESEARCH DATA

Conclusion

The aim of the monograph was a detailed analysis of the activity and contribution of the civic association Maják nadeje, which is dedicated to families in need. The monograph also presents the crisis situation of families and points out the concrete help offered by the association to these families.

The theoretical part of the work is focused on poverty, the third sector and the experience of the civic association Maják nadeje in the field of helping families in material and social need. The emphasis is on rediscovering the meaning of their lives. The publication emphasizes the importance of the aspect of preserving human dignity even when experiencing the deepest poverty.

In the empirical part, a quantitative survey is carried out using the questionnaire method. The author's effort was to interpret the phenomenon of poverty described by the theory as it occurs in individual families, which the civic association Maják nadeje helps. The research analyzed the situation of families living in material and social need, who approached OZ Maják nadeje with a request for assistance. Among the entire complex of facts that a family in need encounters, the research mainly focuses on the number of families, their total income, education and employment of the parents. The findings regarding the families in need located in the OZ Maják nadeje are up-to-date and also original in relation to the provision of assistance by organizations, therefore we consider them to be the most important contribution of the work.

The publication points to the specific destinies of individual families in need, reveals the hidden poverty of many families, and at the same time offers individuals, communities and parishes concrete steps to help the poor.

In the chapter on working with the poor, the author emphasizes that every person should be provided with everything they need for a dignified life, i.e. food, a sense of security, peace, work, culture and education. It is for this reason that every person should remember not only his own needs, but also the needs of those who are in need. The chapter on the third sector points to the activity of civil associations as one of the forms of the non-governmental sector. In the third and fourth chapters, the author presents a comprehensive picture of the goals, activities and addressees of the civic association Maják nadeje in Košice. The last chapter points out the results achieved in the association and the vision for the future.

The publication brings its know-how and can be of benefit not only to social workers and volunteers working with families in need, but also to parish charities, mayors, schools and the wider public, as it offers practically proven options for effectively helping the poor.

Author: Mgr. Soňa Vancáková Title: Families in need WYDAWNICTWO "EDUCATOR": Akademia Polonijna w Częstochowie, ul. Pułaskiego 4/6, 42-200 Częstochowa ISBN 978-83-7542-104-0

Links: Občianske združenie Maják