COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORK AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL REVITALIZATION OF NEGLECTED AREAS IN POLAND

Abstract

The article analyzes the essence of social revitalization of neglected areas and investigates the modern approaches to the implementation of community social work as a tool of social revitalization in Poland. Research methodology was designed in the form of collection, analysis, systematization and generalization of information obtained from Ukrainian and Polish scientific publications, regulatory and legal acts, etc. The novelty of social revitalization approaches for Ukrainian social work is recorded. The definition of the term «revitalization» in accordance with the Polish legislation is given. It was found that this term usually serves a starting point for the interpretation of the narrower concept of «social revitalization». The heterogeneity of its interpretation by Polish researchers is established, its meaning is clarified. Considering the functions of community organizers in Poland the relevance of community social work implementation in the process of social revitalization of neglected areas is substantiated. It is established that the full-scale use of community social work as a component of social revitalization of neglected areas in Poland became possible in 2007–2013 and that the adoption of the Act on Revitalization in 2015 facilitated the process. The existence of scientific investigations dedicated to the development of new approaches or models aimed at the integration of the community organizing into social revitalization programs is pointed out, the example of such research is provided. The absence of a systemic character in the implementation of community social work within the scope of social revitalization measures in Poland is determined, possible root causes for such state of affairs are suggested. The relevance of further research on the theoretical and methodological foundations of social revitalization and its relationship with social work is indicated.