METHODS OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT OF OWN NEEDS

Abstract

Reforming the administrative-territorial structure, decentralization of power, creation of territorial communities, distribution and delegation of powers between public authorities and local governments contribute to the development of social work and social services to the population at the local level. Due to the socio-political changes taking place in Ukrainian society, social work in the community takes on a new hue. An important aspect of making responsible management decisions for the successful development of local communities is the need to assess the community's own needs. The community is a kind of social institution, built on territorial community and socio-economic status, which acts as a regulator of social life. The Law «On Social Services» defines the basic organizational and legal principles of providing social services aimed at preventing, overcoming or minimizing the consequences of difficult life circumstances: incurable disease, disability, unemployment, poverty, domestic violence, evasion of parents or guardians. performance of their responsibilities for the upbringing of a child, old age or damage caused by conflict, war, etc. The community's assessment of its own needs involves seven phases: the formation of assessment groups; determining the purpose of the assessment; receiving support from a significant environment; evaluation planning; conducting an assessment; formation of initiative (working) groups; informing the community about the results of the evaluation. To assess the territorial community's own needs, the authors propose to use such methods of community assessment of their own needs as: timelines, mapping, workshop, matrix. In the practice of social work there are two approaches to determining the needs of the community. The first approach is that the process of determining the needs of the community is carried out by an external expert. The second approach indicates that the main actors in determining the needs and problems of the community are the community itself.