ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION AMONG PARTICIPANTS IN CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP IN SOCIAL WORK WITH ADDICTED ADOLESCENTS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The authors of the study present an original concept for organizing social work with Ukrainian youth and adolescents exhibiting addictive behavior patterns within the context of the information society, by establishing communication at all levels of social relations. The purpose of this research was to explore the organizational and legal principles of communication among participants in cross-sector partnership in social work with addicted adolescents in Ukraine. Methodology. Given that social work with individuals exhibiting addictive behavior is a complex and multilayered system, the authors propose a systems-based approach for both exploratory and organizational efforts in this field. To deepen the understanding of the legal framework of social work, the document analysis method was employed in the article, which allowed for an assessment of the current regulatory system governing social work in Ukraine with individuals suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, as well as gambling addiction. The researchers were also able to identify a legal vacuum in social work with individuals of all age groups suffering from internet addiction and propose their own approach to addressing this gap. In addition, the study utilized conceptual analysis and statistical data analysis, which helped to form a comprehensive picture of how social work with addicted adolescents is organized in Ukraine. The authors emphasize the urgent need to improve the current system of social work with addicted individuals, with a specific focus on youth and the digital environment. Conclusions. The research revealed that the root of addictive behavior among youth and adolescents lies in a crisis of social communication, which arises from social trauma and is often compensated by psychoactive or audiovisual stimuli. If the primary cause of addiction is understood as a disruption in social communication, then rather than focusing solely on a single provider of social services, it is necessary to implement a partnership among public, governmental, and municipal organizations as a comprehensive strategy for solving social problems. Analyzing the forms and structures of such partnerships could become a promising direction for further research.