Training of social workers specializing at work with «at risk» children in the USA, Great Britain and Ukraine: comparative analysis

Abstract

The complicated social-economic situation worldwide is characterized by the social tension. Thus, it actualizes the training of social workers for the professional activity, raising the requirements for their professional competence. The problem of social-legal protection and support of «at risk» children as well the issue of professional training of socail workers for the work with «at risk» children has become the aim of our study. The empirical (observation, interviews with scientists and practical social workers which made it possible to analyze the foreign experience of social workers training) and theoretical (analysis of pedagogical sources on the study to systematize and generalize the available data, to determine the nature of basic concepts of the study, to identify the current state of problem under consideration; comparative analysis to identify specific features of social workers training in higher educational institutions of the USA, Great Britain and Ukraine) methods have been used. This article considers particular issues of social workers training for the work with «at risk» children, namely: interdisciplinary character of training; the optimal combination of theoretical and practical training; the widespread use of interactive teaching methods, potential of self-study, individual, scientific and research work of students; focus on field practice; curriculum aimed at training of social workers for the work with children «at risk»; partnership with social institutions and potential employers. The common features of American, British and Ukrainian systems of social workers training for the work with children «at risk» are the following: the taught direct work with children and families; focusing on human capabilities and resources; choosing the correct approach to children; collaboration with other social services; taught process of assessment, planning, implementation of practice tasks, monitoring etc.