The social sphere is the object of social work. Object and subject of social work

The strategy of social work is the study of a person, his integrity, peace, individuality and universality. In practice, however, most social work models focus on the technological aspects of care. The effectiveness of social work depends on understanding the essence of human life, its changes under the influence of economic, socio-psychological factors. Formation of the human world - difficult process cognition, consolidation, creative development of worldview, ideological, moral attitudes of society, the process of assimilation social qualities, knowledge and skills created by society, on the basis of which their vision and assessment of things is developed.
The active, creative nature of man is interpreted in different ways and taken into account in different models theory and practical organization of social work. The development of humanistic psychology (K. Rogers, A. Maslow, V. Frankl, etc.) has become especially important for understanding a person as an integral personality. All methods of cognition should be used in a systematic, holistic, versatile study of sociocultural phenomena, and above all of a person - as an integral part of that cultural environment, sociocultural tradition, which determines its development and its characteristic problems.
The object and the subject are the fundamental categories of the development of the theory of social work. This theory is characterized by a variety of methodological approaches to their identification. So, in the dictionary-reference book on social work it is noted: “The object of the study of social work is the process of connections, interactions, methods and means of regulating behavior social groups and individuals in society. The subject of social work as independent science are the regularities that determine the nature and direction of the development of social processes in society. "
The boundaries of the object and subject of the theory of social work are associated with the concepts of "social interaction", "social and interpersonal relationships"" Social change "," social dynamics "and" social structure ". The subject essence of social work, despite the diversity of theoretical approaches, is characterized by such a general concept as "sociality", which expresses the diverse ways and forms of coexistence and interaction in society as a system of integral social subjects.
Social coexistence and interaction should be based on the principles of social equality and partnership, fair distribution of material wealth, reliable guarantees for the creative self-assertion of all subjects of society. This understanding of sociality is the most important criterion for the implementation of social work.
The object and subject of social work, on the one hand, are determined by the goals and objectives of practical social work, and on the other, they determine the boundaries and content of the theory and practice of social work. There are many definitions of the object and subject of social work. They are largely similar in that in modern conditions social work goes beyond the boundaries of practical social assistance and is increasingly becoming fundamental theoretical knowledge about a person in the system of social relations and interactions, about ways to improve his social life and social well-being.
Subject and object of social work - essential components systems of theory and practice of social work. The object of social work is, first of all, a person in the system social connections and the relationship to which the social action is directed. This is a client of social assistance, social adaptation and rehabilitation, social diagnostics and prevention, social examination and social therapy.
The object of social work is a client - a person in need of social protection. Historically, at first, the concept of a client included people who had a predisposition to violate generally accepted standards (beggars) or difficulties in adaptation (migrants). Over time, not only the categories of clients change, but also the groups of problems that form the clients of social work. Subsequently, the category of clients was extended to people who, under the influence of society and the abnormal living conditions that society creates, lose the ability to function normally. In this interpretation, the clients of social work included the marginalized, unemployed people who have certain problems in family relationships... Currently, the client of social work identifies a battered person, group or community who needs the help of a social worker and with whom an agreement has been reached to work together.

In such a broad context, a client of social work can be anyone with any problem. In social work theory, there are different typologies of clients of modern social work. For example, in the direction and nature of the interaction: individual;
group; community; or according to the specifics of the request: aggressors, polite, dumb, etc.
The subject of social work is the one who provides social assistance. These can be state organizations (social insurance bodies, social protection bodies), public organizations (various charitable unions, organizations, foundations, etc.) and individuals - specialists in the field of social work of various qualifications (social therapist, social gerontologist, social ecologist etc.) or volunteers - volunteers. Social work is two-sided. The social assistance provided is based on the system of interactions between the social worker and the client, as well as with the client's significant social environment.

Subjects and objects of social work

Subject and object of social work- the most important components of the system of theory and practice of social work ... Social work object- this is, first of all, a person in the system of social ties and relations, to whom social action is directed. This is a client of social assistance, social adaptation and rehabilitation, social diagnostics and prevention, social examination and social therapy.

Social work object- the client is a person in need of social protection. Historically, at first, the concept of a client included people who had a predisposition to violate generally accepted standards (beggars) or difficulties in adaptation (migrants). Over time, not only the categories of clients change, but also the groups of problems that form the clients of social work. Subsequently, the category of clients was extended to people who, under the influence of society and the abnormal living conditions that society creates, lose the ability to function normally. In this interpretation, the clients of social work included the marginalized, unemployed people who have certain problems in family relations.

Currently social work client the beatings are determined by a person, group or community that needs the help of a social worker and with whom an agreement has been reached to work together.

In such a broad context, a client of social work can be anyone with any problem. In social work theory, there are different typologies of clients of modern social work. For example, in the direction and nature of the interaction: individual;

group; community; or according to the specifics of the request: aggressors, polite, dumb, etc.

Subject of social work- this is the one who provides social assistance. These can be state organizations (social insurance bodies, social protection bodies), public organizations (various charitable unions, organizations, foundations, etc.) and individuals - specialists in the field of social work of various qualifications (social therapist, social gerontologist, social ecologist, etc.) or volunteers - volunteers. Social work is two-sided. The social assistance provided is based on the system of interactions between the social worker and the client, as well as with the client's significant social environment.

The essence of social work. Purpose, tasks, subject of social work

Social work- a profession for those who have desire help improve the lives of others. Social work is a professional activity aimed at helping people, social groups to overcome personal and social difficulties through support, protection, correction and rehabilitation. Social workers help people by helping them cope with issues in their Everyday life, such as family and personal problems, relationships with relatives.

Social work is the most important social institution civil society, which allows you to gently and consistently create the necessary conditions for the realization of private interests without prejudice to the interests of the public. The practice of social work is far from perfect, which makes it especially topical issue about its development. Latest trends, are aimed at maximizing nationalization and formalization of this type of activity, or at minimizing state participation in this area.

The subject of social work not all social relations are, but a group of relations that are the most problematic, that is, lead to destabilization, social disorganization, an increase in social tension, the emergence of social conflicts, people getting into difficult life situations; as well as patterns of interaction between subjects of social work when optimizing social relations (in the process of forming the ability to restore a social subject). Social work studies activity, that is, the introduction of an active subject into the subject of social work.

In social work essential has the social, psychological and physiological well-being of the individual. Due to this main goals of social work:

Increasing the degree of independence of the client, disclosing the possibilities and abilities of the individual to most effectively solve life problems;

Creation of conditions conducive to the maximum manifestation of the potential of clients and the opportunity to get everything that they are entitled to by law;

Adaptation or readaptation of people in society;

Creating conditions for an individual so that he can live with dignity and respect for himself from others, despite deviations in physical or mental development or a life crisis;

Achieving such a result when the client can cope with his problems on his own and the need for the help of a social worker will disappear.

At the macro level, social work is expressed in certain measures to improve the living environment of people:

Assistance in creating decent conditions for human life in society;

Prevention of socio-political and national-ethnic conflicts;

At the meso level, social work acts as a type of activity to help a person, family and various groups of people in need. The forms of activity are varied - from the provision of various material benefits to the organization of the most important spheres of people's life.

At the micro level, social work is based on the needs of the individual (client) and is aimed at restoring or preserving the societal and psycho-mental connections of the individual with the society, group or individual. Help is offered in the form of individual counseling, patronage and group work. Thus, the main goal of social work- not only concern for the well-being of the individual, family, community, but also the disclosure of their capabilities and abilities for normal life.

The goals of social work are concretized in the following tasks:

1. To maximize the development of individual abilities and moral and volitional qualities of clients, encouraging them to take independent actions to take personal responsibility for everything that happens in their lives.

2. To promote the achievement of mutual understanding between the client and the social environment in which he exists. Emphasis on self-help and self-development of the client.

3. To develop the main provisions and principles of social policy, to seek at all levels of their legislative adoption and executive implementation. The Need for Social Legislation and Political Action by Social Workers on Distribution Issues budget funds and tax revenues, targeted assistance to those in need, observance of ethnic equality, the organization of health insurance, vocational training and retraining, prevention and eradication of crime, requires active participation in election campaigns, administrative structures, the media, social actions of trade unions, women's, environmental and other public organizations.

4. Carry out work on the prevention and prevention of socially undesirable phenomena. The promotion of a healthy lifestyle, physical culture, full-fledged balanced nutrition, the organization of medical examination and vaccination of the population contribute to maintaining a healthy nation, preserving optimal level life.

5. Organize research, conferences and seminars on social work problems, publish scientific and methodological literature for practicing workers and students.

6. Promote the dissemination of information about the rights and benefits of certain categories of citizens, the duties and possibilities of social services, provide advice on legal, legal aspects social policy.

The object of social work serve people in need of outside help. These include: old people; pensioners; disabled people; seriously ill people; children; people who find themselves in a difficult life situation - trouble; teenagers who find themselves in bad company; orphans; refugees; immigrants and many others.

This is an incomplete socio-demographic characteristic of the object of social work in the modern Republic of Belarus. Not all groups of people in need of social assistance have been named. Each of these people is a unique personality, with a unique mentality, psyche, and a complex biography. This requires from the social worker exceptional tact, penetration into the fate of a person, compassion, versatile knowledge, a variety of skills, the greatest patience and dedication.

Subject of social work

All functions of rendering assistance to people in need are performed by subject of social work. The subject of social work includes all those people and organizations that conduct and manage social work. This is the state as a whole, which implements social policy. These are charitable organizations, charity societies such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society. These are various public organizations.

But the main subject of social work is, of course, not organizations, not associations, but people, social workers professionally or on a voluntary basis.

Social worker- is a specialist in the field of social work; it is a profession, specialty, a set of specialties in the field of social work.

There are not many professional workers. In total, there are about 500 thousand professional workers in the world. These are specialists who have diplomas certifying that they have been officially assigned the specialty "social worker". For example, in Russia, as a result of measures taken in recent years, several tens of thousands of professional social workers have been trained. In the Republic of Belarus, professional social workers are trained at BSU (GUIST), BSPU named after M. Tank, Belarusian University of Culture and some other universities.

A large amount of the burden of social services for those in need falls on the shoulders of non-professional workers who do not have a special diploma and are engaged in social work due to the prevailing circumstances.

Now there is no information about how many citizens of the Republic of Belarus are engaged in social work on a voluntary basis. According to the average world statistics, there are 10-15 people per social worker.

When speaking about the subject of social work, it is important to keep in mind one more circumstance. Among them there are those who are mainly engaged in the organization of social work (they can be called organizers or managers), but there are those who directly provide social assistance.

Content, functions, means and purpose of social work.

3) predictive, 4) organizational, 5) socio-psychological, 6) managerial, 7) practical assistance.

A social worker begins his activity with an information function, which consists in collecting information about an object (age, health status, living conditions, material wealth, mental characteristics, character, etc.). Based on the information collected about his future wards, the social worker makes a diagnosis: evaluates the volume, types of work, mode of his activity, difficulties, forms, methods, plans physical and material costs, etc.

In parallel with the "diagnosis", the social worker also builds up a diagnosis of his activity: it is difficult - it will be easy for him to work, he will be able or not to provide effective assistance, somewhat quickly - it will take a long time to deal with the "patient", and so on. Depending on the nature of social assistance (providing, for example, social assistance to a lonely patient or relieving psychological stress), a work plan is also built, its content and types of practical assistance are determined.

Social work is done by means. Under by means all those objects, actions, etc. are understood with the help of which the goals of the activity are achieved. The variety of functions of social work also causes the variety of the means used. Their range is unlimited. This, for example, is a word, and a telephone, and psychiatry techniques, and personal charm, etc. It is important to keep in mind that the richer the arsenal of means that a social worker has and has a good command of, the more successful his activity. At the same time, the choice and use of certain means depends entirely on the nature and characteristics of the object of social work. One thing is a lying patient, another thing is a person who is depressed. The set of funds in these cases is significantly noted.

Objects social work is an individual small group, the population of a certain localized area (in whole or in part). Distinctive feature objects of social work is the presence of difficult life situation: disability(health disorder with persistent disorder of body functions caused by diseases, consequences of trauma or defects, leading to limitation of life activity); inability to self-care due to old age, illness inability to self-care due to old age, illness(limitation of movement, inability to perform household and hygienic procedures); orphanhood(loss by persons under the age of 18, parents due to death); neglect(failure by the parents to fulfill their functions of supervision and upbringing of the child and the threat of complete rupture of the child and family); low income ( lack of material resources as a means of satisfying vital and social needs); unemployment(the problem of able-bodied citizens who, for one reason or another, do not participate in production activities, do not have work and earnings (income), are ready to start work); lack of a fixed place of residence(actual lack of socially acceptable housing, lack of material opportunities, violation of the human "microworld", which manifests itself in wandering, vagrancy, lack of certain occupations); family conflicts and abuse(clash of spouses, children and parents, caused by difficult to resolve contradictions associated with confrontation and acute emotional experiences; physical violence; mental (emotional) violence; sexual (sexual) violence; neglect of vital needs); loneliness(a subjective state showing a split in the network of relationships and connections inner peace personality).

By the subject they call a cognizing and acting being opposed to the external world as an object of knowledge or transformation. A distinctive feature of the subject is the presence of a goal - the intended result. As subject social work is considered, as a rule: individual workers of social services, with a certain degree of convention - social state and non-state (confessional, public organizations, commercial) institutions.

An important role in social work is played by social service(social services system). According to the law "On the Basics of Social Services for the Population" (1995), the state system of social services consists of state enterprises and institutions that are in federal ownership and the property of the subjects of the federation, and the corresponding municipal system of enterprises and institutions that are in charge of local governments. The legislation provides for the existence of three systems of social services: private, state and municipal. A special place in state system social work is occupied by federal off-budget funds (Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, State Employment Fund of the Russian Federation, Republican (federal) fund social support population, Federal Mandatory Health Insurance Fund). TO non-state actors social work includes: the church, public organizations (including trade unions, political parties, movement), charitable foundations, manufacturing enterprises ( different forms property). Subjects of this group can play the role of a social investor (realizing their own financial resource on certain conditions), or the role of a social executor (human and organizational resources) using the financial resource of other institutions, including the state. In this case, confessional or public social services are created. Relatives, friends, neighbors, private benefactors can act as informal subjects of social assistance.

Traditionally, the social sphere is viewed as a space for social work. And this has its reasons. In this chapter, without removing the question of describing it as a specified space, the author tries to consider the social sphere as an object of social work. In this case, you immediately need to make a reservation that the aspects social sphere closely interconnected, intersect, although, in our opinion, they are not identical.

When differentiating (differentiating) objects of social work, one should proceed from a broad interpretation of the object. That is, the object is taken in its entirety, it is interpreted from a general scientific, philosophical and subject-sociological point of view. In this sense, the object is considered, firstly, as a philosophical category denoting objective reality, the external world that exists outside of our consciousness and independently of man; secondly, as an object, a phenomenon to which human activity is directed; thirdly, as an enterprise, institution, place of business, location.

Since social work is such a branch of knowledge in which an empirical, applied component occupies a significant place, it is important to interpret the object from the point of view of sociological research as a carrier of a particular social problem, as a specific area of ​​social reality, a sphere of activity of the subject. public life.

Taking into account the foregoing, groups of objects of social work are determined.

The first group includes groups of the population who find themselves in a difficult life situation. Their characteristics, taking into account the possible classification (according to the state of health, service and labor in extreme social conditions, forms and types of deviant behavior, etc.) is given in a number of the author's works.

The second group of objects of social work includes the entire population, all its groups and strata. It must be borne in mind that every person at any time, at any period of his life needs full satisfaction of his needs and interests. Moreover, in each area of ​​his life, they can be satisfied unevenly. The rich need to maintain and strengthen health, more calm atmosphere, stress-free. A healthy person may be poor and not be able to realize their diverse healthy attitudes. In any family, inter-spousal or parent-child relations can be aggravated. Children, adolescents and old people always need protection. This is especially true for the conditions of a crisis state of society. Thus, each person needs to some degree or another support, help, protection.

The vital activity of all strata and groups of the population depends on conditions that are largely predetermined by the level of development of society, the state of the social sphere, the content of social policy, and the possibilities for its implementation. Therefore, with good reason, it is possible (and necessary) to refer to the object of social work the spheres of life of a person, group, stratum, community. Bearing in mind the first group of objects of social work, we interpret it in the narrow sense of the word. In the second and especially in the third cases, it is understood in broad sense- as not only a solution to everyday problems, but also the prevention of acute social problems on a global scale (unemployment, poverty, various social diseases, the most acute forms of deviant behavior, problems of socialization of a person, groups, communities).

When characterizing the spheres of life as elements of society, it is important to take into account the understanding of human society in both a broad and a narrow sense.

Naturally, all spheres of social life are closely interconnected, penetrate, penetrate each other. Their isolation in a certain sense is conditional, at the same time justified and useful, since it allows you to more clearly, vividly represent their essence and features. In this regard, the social sphere is unique, it is she who is an alloy, an organic connection, a combination, the unity of social aspects of all spheres of public life. That is why, in the context of the topic, we are primarily interested in the essence, content and characteristics of the social sphere as the most important object of social work.

The reasons for the actualization of the state and development of the social sphere in modern conditions are very diverse. Among them, one can single out factors of both a global, fundamental, and a particular, one might say, country-specific character.

First of all, this is the level of development of human society as a whole. In the XX century. and the beginning of the XXI century. it is the position of a person in society, the satisfaction of his urgent needs and interests that come to the fore. The reasons for this are the achieved level of social production, the development of productive forces, culture, and the person himself.

At the same time, it is this achieved level of development of society that has raised extremely sharply, as never before, the issues of the relationship between nature and society, the preservation and improvement of the natural environment of human habitation; population problems in connection with the depletion of the planet's natural resources, redistribution (more equitable) of material and other resources between continents, groups of countries, north and south, human health problems and other problems of survival, human security.

This situation in each individual country is conditioned, on the one hand, by the problems facing humanity as a whole, and, on the other hand, by the situation in a particular country.

The social sphere is an extremely important area of ​​the life of human society, in which the social policy of the state is implemented through the distribution of material and spiritual benefits, ensuring the progress of all aspects of social life, improving the position of the working person. The social sphere covers the system of social, socio-economic, socio-ethnic relations, communication between society and the individual. It also includes the totality social factors the vital activity of social, social and other groups and individuals, the conditions for their development. The social sphere covers the entire space of a person's life - from the conditions of his work and life, health and leisure to social-class and socio-ethnic relations. The content of the social sphere is the relationship between social and other groups, individuals about their position, place and role in society, way and way of life.

The structure of the social sphere includes the following components: a) social activities; b) the social structure of society;

c) social infrastructure; d) social relations in the proper or narrow sense.

Let us briefly explain the content of each of these components.

Generally activity - it is a way of existence and development of social reality, a manifestation of social activity, purposeful reflection and transformation of the surrounding world. The main features of the activity are consciousness (goal-setting), productivity, social character. Given this characteristic social activities focused on the social sphere as a whole, on the implementation of the social aspects of all other activities. A particular manifestation of it is social work aimed at providing assistance, social support, social protection of people, the creation of normal conditions for their life.

Social structure of society as a component of the social sphere (but not only it) is a set of stable and ordered connections between objectively existing social classes, social and other groups, strata and communities of people. It is worth emphasizing that the social structure reflects the differentiation of society into groups that are socially different to one degree or another. In connection with this and the essence of social work, it is important to single out those groups and strata of the population that occupy a special position in the social structure due to the situation (disability, old age, illness, poverty, etc.) in which they find themselves, that situation , which requires the use of a wide variety of technologies of social work with them.

Social infrastructure as a component of the social sphere, it is material and material elements that provide the conditions for a person's life in society - in the production, political and spiritual spheres, in the family, in everyday life. This is a collection of industries such as science, education, healthcare, trade, catering, consumer services, housing and communal services, transport, communications, etc.

Social relationships in the proper sense as a component of the social sphere, it is the objectively developing relations between people about social status, the way of life of people, their groups and strata, their equality (social) and inequality in society, the implementation of the principles of social justice, the degree of satisfaction of material, spiritual and other needs of people, conditions for the existence and development of an individual, group, class. Ultimately, the essence of this component of the social sphere can be concretized as an opportunity (for each person, group, stratum) of access to values, goods and services, guarantees and rights of the individual, working conditions of a person, everyday life, leisure, health, the ability to determine the choice of profession and place residence, participation in management, social and professional advancement and relocation (mobility).

The state and development of the social sphere in the present stage human society associated with the process of globalization. Globalization in its current state, on the one hand, contributes to the development of the social sphere, and on the other hand, it slows down, hinders its development and functioning, especially in individual enclaves represented by underdeveloped, developing countries. Suffice it to say that due to unequal exchange, price scissors and other reasons, the ratio of the difference in per capita income in industrialized and developing countries is more than 10. More than three billion people live below the UN officially defined poverty threshold with a daily budget of less than 2 dollars. Residents of Russia, for example, are now 40 times poorer than Americans. The poverty threshold in the country is $ 38 per month, and in the United States - $ 1,500.

This situation, naturally, cannot continue indefinitely. It is precisely the desire to maintain the current position in developed countries at the expense of the majority of the world's population and determines the irrepressible aggressiveness of the United States and its allies. The events of September 2001 in the United States show that reconciliation in the currently existing economic and social basis rich and poor countries will not be.

The state of the social sphere in the modern conditions of Russia is alarming. The state of the social sphere, the standard of living of the country's population depend on many factors, but above all on the degree of development of the country's economy. And it is currently not socially (in the interests of the majority of the population) oriented. The social sphere does not have a proper economic base. Gross Domestic Product for the 90s XX century. decreased by almost half. In terms of the volume of annual GDP production in 1987, Russia occupied the 5th place among the leading countries (after the USA, Japan, China and Germany). - only 13th place.

Per capita food consumption has dropped sharply. The food security of the country has been undermined. By different sources, food imports make up almost 40-50% (and even higher in large cities) of consumed food.

According to the index developed by UN experts, which takes into account not only the level of gross national product per capita, but also life expectancy, its quality, the level of medical care and education of the population, Russia in the mid-90s. XX century. ranked 37th in the world community

(below Barbados, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas), and some former Soviet republics are even lower. At the beginning of the XXI century. the situation, unfortunately, has not changed fundamentally.

The present Russian state does not care about social infrastructure as the most important component of the social sphere. This is especially true for the village. Funds are not allocated for the construction of new communications and buildings, for the renovation of old ones, schools and post offices in rural areas are closed, which is contrary to the law (this requires the consent of the majority of residents). Shops are closed in many villages, and people have nowhere to buy basic necessities. Sometimes there is no way to call an ambulance due to the lack of telephone communication (there is no money for repairs). In fact, many villages and towns are dying out.

In the North, in remote areas, thousands of settlements and villages are left without electricity, gas, medical services, and buses in winter.

Compared to the budget of the RSFSR in Russia in the 1990s. less funds were invested: in medicine and physical education- 3.2 times; in education - 3.5; culture and art - 4.1; in science - by 6.2 times, in defense - by 5.5 times. The situation has not fundamentally changed in the first decade of the 21st century.

  • purchasing power of the national currency (ruble). 1975-1985 inflation was 30%, for 1989-1999. more than 1,000,000% (absolute peacetime record);
  • reasonable prices for the most important goods and services: public transport in the city - 5 kopecks. (now 5-8 rubles and more); a conversation from a street payphone - 2 kopecks. (now 4 rubles); a decent lunch in a cafe - 1 rub. (now 50-70 rubles); bathhouse - 20 kopecks. (50 rubles). For the most important goods and services, the growth over the past 10 years was 20-50 times;
  • elementary social justice and stability. The maximum pay gap was 5 times (now it is tens and hundreds of times);
  • social guarantees: the purchasing power of salaries, pensions, benefits, scholarships (now, according to official data, it is 5-10%, in fact it is 2-3 times more); protection of childhood and motherhood; free housing, the opportunity for everyone to be treated and to have a rest, to get an education;
  • confidence in the future: protection against unemployment, against the tyranny of the employer, safety on the street, at home, on transport, in the forest, etc .; from banking and other "pyramids", etc .; from socially dangerous diseases. These indicators have worsened and are getting worse in connection with the natural disasters that befell Russia in the summer of 2010 - fires. Drastic change the situation in the country depends on many factors. First of all, measures are needed to overcome the systemic crisis, develop the real economy, and change social policy in the interests of the majority of the population. At the turn of XX-XXI centuries. special attention should be paid to the issue of creating a single social space within the CIS, which could significantly contribute to the development of the social sphere of the peoples of all countries of the former Soviet Union, strengthening the social security of citizens of the CIS countries. The creation of a single social space presupposes the adoption of a number of specific measures in the social sphere. These measures include: settlement of the problems of employment of workers on the territory of the member states of the Commonwealth; determination of reasonable proportions between the minimum pension and wages; determination of basic parameters social security; ensuring guarantees of compensation payments to the least socially protected categories of the population, including payments of pensions earned by citizens of one CIS country in other countries of the Commonwealth; adoption of coordinated measures to ensure targeted social assistance, benefits for low-income people, sources of their funding and charity; development of a unified approach to the establishment of benefits and guarantees throughout the CIS for disabled people of the Great Patriotic War, "Afghans", etc .; security social rights and guarantees to servicemen (as being on military service and finished it) throughout the territory the former Soviet Union; coordination and convergence of the systems of national economic and criminal legislation of the CIS countries, unification of legal norms and standards, which will help to increase the effectiveness of the struggle for legality and law and order, curb crime; enforcing uniform norms and standards for protection the environment, agreed requirements in the field of ecology (legal assistance in civil and family rights, solution on an equal footing of legal issues affecting the interests of citizens of different states the former USSR, solution of refugee problems, etc.).

The implementation of these measures, as well as national projects implemented by the government (for housing, agriculture, education and healthcare) can, hopefully, significantly improve the state of the country's social sphere.

The single object of social work - the social sphere - can be concretized by highlighting its constituent parts. This is important for understanding how, how you can influence them, that is, apply various technologies.

The constituent components of the social sphere are very diverse. Among them, the most important are:

  • the sphere of production, industrial and social infrastructure. This area includes the environment, setting, the process of creating material and other benefits; a complex of sectors of the economy serving industrial and agricultural production, as well as the population; material and material elements that provide conditions for life in society - in the production, political and spiritual spheres, in the family and in everyday life;
  • urban and rural, as well as intermediate forms of settlement. From the point of view of social policy and social work in this sphere of human life, it is important to take into account the size of settlements, the concentration of the population in them, the level of development of productive forces, types of production (industrial, agricultural, etc.), saturation with cultural and household facilities, improvement, development of transport , means of communication, etc .;
  • health care- a system of public, private and mixed enterprises and institutions that carry out measures to protect health, prevent and treat diseases and prolong human life;
  • the sphere of education, including all types and forms of education, training and retraining of personnel - from kindergartens to higher education educational institutions as well as related infrastructure;
  • sphere of science - the area of ​​life, carried out by research institutes and laboratories, scientific centers, design bureaus and other institutions, teams and individual scientists and aimed at obtaining, substantiating and systematizing objective knowledge about the phenomena and processes occurring in nature and society;
  • sphere of culture - includes the objective results of human activity (machines, structures, works of art, etc.), as well as human strengths and abilities realized in activities (knowledge, skills, skills, the level of intelligence, moral and aesthetic development, worldview, methods and forms of communication between people);
  • cultural and leisure sphere- part of the non-working time used for recreation and entertainment (visiting cultural institutions and mass shows, games, dancing, reading, etc.), creative and amateur activities, physical education and sports, as well as the entire infrastructure for organizing recreation and entertainment, creative and amateur activities;
  • power structures of society - include the army, navy, border units, militia (police), riot police and other security forces that protect the state from external hostile forces and opposition inside the country. This also includes, of course, the entire infrastructure of power units, designed to ensure the performance of the relevant functions of power structures;
  • penitentiary system - correctional labor institutions in which people who have committed an offense or crime are serving their sentences, as well as activities to implement punishments and correct (positive socialization) the punished;
  • socio-ethnic environment - in a broad sense, it is a socio-political system as a whole, in which a socio-ethnic community functions (acts, develops): the social division of labor, the method (methods) of production, the totality of social relations and institutions, social consciousness, the culture of a given society (community). In a narrow sense, the socio-ethnic environment means the immediate environment of a socio-ethnic community, group, stratum, their individual representatives (family, family relations, labor and settlement collectives, various groups of people of a social and socio-ethnic nature);

the sphere of consumer services for the population - part of the service sector, the provision of non-production and production services (housing repair, dry cleaning of things, sewing and repair of clothes, shoes, car maintenance, rental, baths, hairdressing salons, laundries, photo studio, repair of household appliances, etc.) by relevant institutions and enterprises.

In each of these areas, as objects of social work, taking into account their specifics, issues are resolved on creating normal conditions for work and rest, providing medical and other assistance, support, social protection of people working in these areas, as well as all groups, strata of the population, directly or indirectly related to these areas. In the end it comes on the creation through the implementation of social activities optimal conditions for life, positive socialization of people, their various groups and strata.

Thus, from the characteristics of the social sphere presented above, one can make a reasonable conclusion that it really is that space, and the social one, in which social work is carried out in all its aspects and directions. Wherein social space interpreted in both broad and narrow sense. In a broad sense, it is a socially developed part of natural wealth as a habitat for people, a spatial and territorial aspect of the life of society and the objective world of a person, a characteristic social structure society in terms of the "location" of social groups and strata, conditions and opportunities for their development. The elements of social space are directly surrounding nature, civil society, the state, regions, national and other socio-ethnic subjects of government, labor and household associations. Social space includes everything that directly protects the social interests of a person, the realization of the social needs of citizens, motivates or blocks the disclosure of the essential forces of a person, society. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the natural space that ensures the necessary reproduction of mankind.

In a narrow sense, social space means an essential characteristic of conditions and opportunities social development individuals, groups, organizations, determined by their place in the system of industrial relations and derived factors (education, free time etc.).

Naturally, these two constituent parts of the social space are organically interconnected. Their content is predetermined by the level of development of human society as a whole, the stage at which it is located, the state of a particular society in a particular country. This understanding of social space, determined by the content of the social sphere, determines the interpretation of social work in a broad and narrow sense, the possibility and necessity of applied technologies to solve social problems of people.

Considering the social sphere as an object of social work, we mean its understanding in a broad sense. Based on this, in the context of globalization important place should be occupied not only with the analysis of social protection, support and assistance of the population in relation to individual groups (especially socially vulnerable), but above all the introduction of social work technologies in various areas life of people (production, health care, education, culture, urban and rural forms of settlement, etc.).

Globalization is an objective process of internationalization associated with the emergence and necessity (whether we like it or not) of a decision global problems modernity (ensuring lasting peace, preventing thermonuclear war, preserving the natural environment, guaranteed provision of the Earth's inhabitants with food, energy resources, etc.), i.e., problems related to social protection of people on a globalized scale.

Thus, in the theory of social work, the emphasis is placed not only on the laws of an internal nature (within the framework of national-state formations), which are mainly discussed in teaching aids, but also on patterns that go beyond individual countries and peoples. These include, in particular, the coordination of actions of international and regional organizations, individual states and peoples (large and small) and their groups, the observance of the interests of each of them in a positive solution to the global problems indicated above, not at the expense of others, but in interests of all. Thus, in the context of globalization, both objects and subjects of social work are objectively expanding, they go beyond the framework of national-state formations.

It seems that in the future (this trend is already being formed, especially in "social" states), more and more attention will be paid to the implementation of social work, understood in a broad sense - as activities to prevent, prevent (at least massive) "social diseases" (unemployment , drug addiction, other forms of deviant behavior), for the social protection of all people by providing energy, food resources, etc. Thus, social work should be more proactive, proactive, preventive.

In this regard, more and more attention should be paid not only to clients (individuals, groups, strata), but also to the normal development of certain spheres of social life as objects of social work.

However, the ratio of these two sides of a single process - social work in a broad and narrow sense - will depend on the state of peace on Earth, on the normalization, humanization of relations between countries and peoples, the predominance of certain (positive or negative) elements in the process of globalization.

As for Russia, the theory and practice of social work will largely develop or, conversely, be slowed down depending on socio-political and socio-economic changes in society.

The theory of social work in our country will be enriched through the development of scientific, educational and practical activities not only in Russia, but also due to theoretical and practical achievements in the field of social work abroad.

With the prevalence positive sides globalization, social work will acquire a clearer social, humanistic character.

It is likely that over time, the interdisciplinary nature of social work will lose its relevance due to a clearer definition of its objects and subjects. At the same time, the process of enrichment of the theory of social work on the basis of the development of related scientific and educational disciplines is not excluded.

Social work as a science and educational process can take one of the central places in the system of social disciplines and social education.

  • Cm.: Concise vocabulary modern concepts and terms. 2nd ed. - M .: Republic, 1995.S. 285.
  • See: Social work: theory and practice. Textbook, manual. - M .: INFRA-M, 2001. S. 14-15; Pavlenok P.D. Theory, history and methods of social work: Textbook, manual. - M .: Dashkov and K, 2003-2010, etc.
  • One can agree with the statement of G.I. Osadchay that the following social indicators can be a measure of the development of the social sphere: the value of the subsistence minimum; the proportion of the population below the poverty line; the value of income polarization (decile coefficient); number of those receiving education; a list of medical services available to the entire population; the share of the unemployed in the total working-age population; average life expectancy; infant mortality; fertility. (Osadchaya G.I. The social sphere of society: theory and methodology of sociological analysis. - M., 1996. P. 22).
  • See: L.B. Moskvin. The role of the social sphere in the development of the CIS // Socio-political journal. 1994. No. 11-12. S. 12-13.

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