Social services: a new dimension of help and support for the local community. Activities of Social Service Centres in the Lublin Region

Abstract

A person at different moments in his life may need support and help. Often it is not about financial help, but non-financial forms of support. The Polish social assistance system, implementing global standards and meeting the expectations of the local community, began reforming the system by introducing Social Service Centres. These units are supposed to integrate and involve the local community in solving problems or difficulties occurring in a given territory thanks to the implementation of the social services programme.This article will present the issue of social services. Social services will be presented through the prism of their features, functions and opportunities they provide. In the second part of the article, selected social services that are implemented in Social Service Centers in the Lubelskie Voivodeship will be presented.