The project focuses on the experience of authorized recipients and providers of social services (recipients of social services and social workers). Empowerment is defined in the project as a social approachthe worker does not solve the unfavorable social situation of the recipients, but with they active participation, and thus prevents discrimination and contributes to the egalitarianism of the client with the majority group in the company.
The main goal of the project is examine the concept of empowerment in community work with marginalized groups and vulnerable groupspopulation in the Slovak Republic and in international comparison. The main research questions are:
"How information do social workers have about the concept of empowerment?"
"What practical experience do social workers have with the concept of empowerment in cooperation with clients from marginalized groups?"
"What information do the recipients of social services have (note: Act on Social Services No. 448/2008 also defines social service as the preservation, renewal or development of an individual to lead an independent life and support integration into society) about the possibility of co-decision?"
"What is the experience of social services recipients? "
We plan to make an international comparison by focusing on two research target groups. They are recipients of social services, residents of socially excluded communities; refugees with disabilities (Czech Republic,Norway); refugees (Germany, Sweden) and their experience with the concept. The second group consists of field social service workers / providers, managers and workers of non-profit organizations and their view onthe issue.The ambition of the research team is to create a manual for the application practice of field and community social work precise methodological procedure of work in the field of individual and collective empowerment.
