A social project as a tool for strengthening the care and educational potential of the parents – a case study on the example of the Konopiska municipality

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present, on the basis of a case study of the Konopiska municipality, to what extent social assistance centres can use the social project to raise the parents’ care and educational competence and to promote correct parental attitudes. The article will discuss in detail the projects implemented by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Konopiska in the last eight years, including the project entitled „Rodzice na medal” („Perfect Parents”) which is the author’s bachelor’s thesis. In order for people experiencing problems related to parenthood to be able to obtain comprehensive assistance and professional knowledge, various types of special-ists were hired during the implemented projects, including a psychologist, pedagogue, dietitian, addiction thera-pist and sexologist. An important role in the projects was, of course, played by social workers, whose task was to conduct recruitment of parents and motivating them to actively participate in classes. Social workers also coop-erated with other institutions working for the benefit of the family in order to reach the largest possible number of people in need of strengthening the care and educational potential. The presented activities can be recom-mended as „good practice” and a voice in the discussion on the shape of social work with dysfunctional families and families experiencing difficulties in raising a child. The information contained in the article comes from project documentation, including applications for co-financing, reports on the implementation of tasks and correspondence exchanged between the Konopiska municipality and institutions providing subsidies.