War refugees from Ukraine in Poland: the welfare system in the face of New social challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article describes the experiences of social workers in Poland supporting refugees from Ukraine who came to Poland after the outbreak of the war in February 2022. Social work is a profession that supports vulnerable people in need, including those experiencing war. A social worker is a professional who “can help translate policy into workable projects, help design and evaluate direct services and projects, and work towards community capacity building”.The influx of refugees from the Ukraine war has created unprecedented challenges for social workers. This research was conducted between 6 and 20 July 2022 using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) technique in six voivodships in Poland among social workers employed in local social welfare institutions where most war refugees were given shelter. Most respondents were satisfied with the help provided to refugees in their municipalities. Grassroots initiatives for refugees were particularly appreciated. Most social welfare institutions for refugees from Ukraine offered social counselling as well as material and financial assistance. Integration and social activation services were provided much less frequently. The research shows the scope of cross-sectoral cooperation. The key partners helping refugees from Ukraine, in addition to schools, were ordinary citizens, creating various informal insurance groups.