| Abstract [eng] |
In Lithuania and around the world, the prevailing social services system covers a wide spectrum of target client groups, including individuals, families, and/or their communities who face various social problems and fall into the area of social risk. The social services system, as an ensemble of different processes and the actors involved in them, includes not only different client groups but also various social service providers—state institutions, various public establishments, the non-governmental sector, and individuals working out of voluntary motivations or altruism. In today's context, one of the groups increasingly requiring the attention and assistance of specialists and society due to changing geopolitical situations and various emerging crises are migrants involved in migration processes, coming to host countries for various personal, social, political, and other reasons. This thesis examines the interaction and specific activities arising from the spectrum of social assistance to migrants in Lithuania, the management of the boundaries of assistance to migrants, and the diversity of competencies of aid providers. The assumption made in this work is that different providers of social assistance—representatives of social work and creative social missions—interact with each other and manage their professional boundaries and responsibilities differently. The qualitative research employs semi-structured interviews—individual, dyadic, and group interviews. Empirical data are analyzed according to the "expert interview" content analysis methodology. The research results show that the interaction between different providers of assistance to migrants is not only a very frequent phenomenon but also an important part of their profession and work. For social work representatives, interaction and cooperation allow them to expand the formal social services provided to migrants and to supplement or fill existing gaps. Representatives from other fields actively participating in providing social assistance rely on interaction by integrating into the field of social assistance, creating a connection with migrants, and identifying the need for help. The identification and management of responsibilities and activity boundaries in the process of assisting migrants is a crucial, field-influencing process, often perceived differently by various aid providers. The common point of contact between both groups in providing help is to ensure the needs of migrants are met as best as possible, optimally utilizing the available knowledge and resources. |
