For a community dangers caused by natural disasters (floods, whirlwinds, gales) or resulting from humans activities (gas output, war) mean the time of social mobilization related to protection of both social and institutional resources. This is a situation when in local communities forces present in informal relations (volunteers, self-helpgroup) as well as institutionalized structures (non-governmental organisations, social welfare centre) are mobilised. In this article, actions carried in case of a flood in Poland and the help provided for Ukraininan refugees are compared. Empirical data from three studies has been used two with flood victims and the social workers and one with social workers and volunteers helping the refugees from Ukraine. Some aspects related to giving support for victims of a crisis situation should be indicated. Firstly, both flood victims and refugees are not unitary collectivities and differ in terms of future plans, social and financial capital, situation in the household or trust given to helping institutions. Secondly, social mobilization is carried out by both state institutions (e.g. social welfare centre) as well as non-governmental sector and volunteers. Thirdly, the suport is provided in three speheres: informative connected with how to conduct some tasks or how to exist after a flood or leaving Ukraine, material (financial) and emotional. Fourthly, well-prepared and competent representatives of governmental and non-governmental sector are important and a clear division of tasks between particular people or entities giving suport for those in need coordination of activities.In case of Ukrainian refugees in walfare social centres complex social work should be implemented from welcoming to becoming independent. Social work should be focused on familarizing with an offer of public and non-governmental institutions supporting refugees in the proces of integration but also on enhancing successful communication and orientation in the place of living.
This article offers a critical reflection on the Programme “Family 500+” introduced by the Polish government and aimed at improving the financial situation of Polish families in order to increase the fertility rate. Families have been supported with the benefit of 500 PLN given for each child under 18. The article presents the results of the research carried out in 2019 on the representatives of the households (N= 3347). The interviewees most frequently pointed to the increase of the quality of living conditions and the increase in the consumption of goods and services. Approximately 80% of the interviewees have noticed the fact that the benefit boosted potential development of children by enabling them to participate in the extracurricular activities and visit leisure centers. 64,7% of the interviewees believe that the Programme let them have savings and 17,8% of respondents claim that the benefit will not contribute to their savings but will be consumed on a day-to-day basis. Despite the initial assumptions of the Programme , the policy of pronatalism was not achieved as the fertility rate did not reach the assumed level. It must be stated that even though the legislative activities constitute a milestone in the Polish pro-family policy these solutions have many disadvantages. The Programme should not be the main tool of the Polish demographic policy but just supplementary.
Keywords: Family 500+ Programme; family policy; demographic policy; State Aid for Child Support Act; household finance; family benefits
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