Who are family assistants, and what role do they play in the local community? This is a question that concerns many residents. A family assistant has an extremely difficult task. They reach families when the parents’ problems may lead to the children being placed in care institutions or other forms of foster care. We all know that the best caregivers are, and should be, the parents, but sometimes it is they who become most lost when they find themselves in a crisis situation, when hopelessness and a sense of life’s meaninglessness appear. The consequences of such a state affect the whole family.
Sometimes, in a glimmer of hope, parents seek help from professionals such as social workers, or, completely lost, look for relief in destructive behaviours (alcohol, drugs, violence).
Many families struggle with poverty and are often in debt, having received an eviction order because of unpaid rent arrears. Families differ in status: they include married couples, single caregivers and cohabiting couples, but the most important foundation is love and care for the children, although these are expressed differently by each family. Families in a crisis or complicated life situation who are seeking support can receive assistance from a family assistant through a social worker.
A family assistant is a person with the appropriate qualifications, experience and, above all, the skills to work with a family facing numerous problems in many areas of its life. The assistant does not act as a controller or judge the parents’ conduct, but diagnoses the situation, learns about the problems, and determines the forms and methods of assistance together with those concerned.
Assistants try to find something positive and encourage household members to make changes. They work with the family’s resources and strengths, often cooperating with extended family and many other necessary institutions (education, the judiciary, public offices, non-governmental organisations, etc.).
The assistant plays a supportive role within the family system. They help repair complicated family relationships, resolve parenting problems and support families in their everyday functioning. The results of the work will depend on how cooperation develops between the assistant and the family receiving help, as the assistant’s presence must be accepted by those under their care.
Streetwork literally means work on the street, or street-based work. A streetworker’s activities involve reaching homeless people and individuals struggling with addiction who are present in the city (at railway stations, allotment gardens and rubbish dumps). The streetworker gains their trust in order to identify and determine their needs. A streetworker works on the streets with people at risk of social exclusion by raising awareness and providing information, guidance and assistance in resolving clients’ life problems. They facilitate clients’ access to public offices and social reintegration instruments. They cooperate with all support services in addressing social problems.
Miejski Ośrodek Pomocy Społecznej w Bolesławcu hopes that this innovative working method will bring substantial benefits.
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