Polder
Welfare
Links NHL Welfare studies l Universität Bielefeld l Social Work & Society l European Journal of Social Work l Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare & Sport l Info about The Netherlands l Fundacja SIC! l
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Work site of Willem Blok (Netherlands),
on social work, social policy
and
citizen participation
The term POLDERWELFARE is invented and described by Willem Blok of NHL University of professional education in Leeuwarden. Polderwelfare is a variation on the economical term "poldermodel". Polderwelfare is related to the current state of development in social security, care & welfare in The Netherlands. See
the
definition
Social Work in Poland:
a helping profession in
need
Willem Blok
In this article I report the most important outcome of a national survey in Poland into the position and working circumstances of Social Workers. 1162 Social Workers (ca. 4% of all workers in Poland) took part in it.
The article was published in Polish & English language. This version was published in SW&S News Magazine, March 2007
Market, Management
& Profession
Social Business in the Polder
Willem Blok
In a recent policy document of the organized employers in the care and welfare sector in The Netherlands (the MO Group), directors and board members of care and welfare institutions present themselves as “social entrepreneurs”, managing their institutions as look-a like commercial companies. They are hardly criticized and there is not any countervailing power of significance. The workers are focusing on their own specialized professional fields and divided as a whole. Many government officials are in favour or do not bother. The relatively small number of intellectual workers in Dutch care and welfare are fragmented and pragmatic. From a democratic point of view this is a worrying situation. From a professional point of view the purpose and functions of professional care and welfare work are at stake. Continue >
Strategies for Modernisation of
Social Work in a Uniting Europe
International Summer Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, August 2003
Willem Blok
As a result of ongoing globalisation
processes, Social Work becomes
more and more a global profession,
with international standards for
education and professional
practice (Penna, Paylor &
Washington, 2000). From this point
of view, differences between
national organized systems of
professional social work are in
some respects very much
differences in development stage
and professionalisation due to the
dependency of local government
financing. That offers chances for
(more) international cooperation
and initiatives (Blok &
Czekanowski, 2001. See also
Mathbor, 2003).
Conference Economic Academy Poznan:
„Gospodarowanie kapitalem spolecznym – teoria i praktyka” 26-27 November 2003
Paper Willem Blok
Toward more democracy
and active citizenship
in Polish society
What I have to say on this conference about developments in Poland, is colored by my specific position as an outsider, as a foreigner from the West. However, I am not a tourist, but a worker in your country, operating in the field of social work, social policy and education.
I come since 1993 in Poland. I have seen, and I still see, the country changing.
Poland did quite well in the 1990’s from a political and economical point of view.
But from a social point of view, and that is the way of looking and discussing today on this conference, is in my opinion less reason for enthusiasm.
I like to mention three main problems and I will suggest some elements for a solution.
Toward modern social
work & social policy in
the local community
Abstract lecture in Kaunas,
Lithuania, March 2, 2005
Willem Blok
In a modern, Western type of society, professional Social Work is an important instrument to cope with social problems and to deal with vulnerable groups in society. Together with their clients,
social workers try to influence every day life circumstances of people in an ongoing effort to enhance the social quality of life.
To support and to facilitate this important work, local and regional governments have to develop and implement social policy, local social policy, in which objectives are formulated, target groups are chosen, priorities are set and resources are mobilized. Continue >
Community work is only
the beginning
Toward a system of
modern social work in
Poland
Willem Blok
The acceptance of community work in Poland by social workers, teachers, policy-makers and scientists can be considered as a clear and strong sign of the growing awareness, that Poland needs a modern system of professional social work. Such a system is needed for at least three reasons: (1) to start solving the many social problems in the country (2) to stimulate and support initiatives and active participation of citizens and (3) to modernize the existing social infrastructure, i.c. the whole of organizations, institutions and servicesenabling individual citizens to participate in their own social environment. In the arena of the market society, social work is needed to support the weaker actors and to create conditions and rules for a fair game for all. Community workers are the change agents and social engineers of modern social work. It is good, sometimes even necessary, to have them.
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drs. Willem M.J. Blok
education, development & social work
lecturer NHL, The Netherlands
E-mail: w@blok.to
websites
via
http://blok.to
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