ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

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International Social Worker Day: Challenges, achievements and upcoming projects in the field

16.03.2021

On the occasion of the International Day of Social Workers an online press conference was held in "Armenpress" press hall

Presenting the statement of the Armenian Association of Social Workers, the President of the Association Mrs. Mira Antonyan noted that most of the specialists employed in this field began their career as volunteers and non-specialists, and now most of them in the field have had appropriate education or undergo long-term training.

“Social work is no longer limited to the area of social protection, in a narrow sense, it has also found its place in schools, prisons, probation services, day care centers, in all areas of human rights protection, etc. Social workers work in more than a hundred communities, helping individuals and their families, thereby contributing to solving the problems of the entire community,” Mira Antonyan said.

International Day of Social Workers was a perfect opportunity to give importance to social workers, raise the issues such as incentive pay and appropriate working conditions. Decent working conditions for social workers, adequate pay, balanced workload, professional care, assessment are key issues that can be addressed by people-centered attitudes towards vulnerable groups, poverty reduction, reduced dependence on benefits or other forms of assistance, poverty alleviation, recovery and the involvement of people affected by poverty or other social problems.

At this stage, according to Mira Antonyan, the social protection system of the Republic of Armenia is going through a stage of structural reforms focusing on individuals and families. Therefore the key role goes to social worker with case management methodology. The Association plans, in the framework of the "Promoting social inclusion and self-reliant livelihood activities in Armenia" Project implemented under the administration of the World Bank and financial support of the Government of Japan (through Japan Social Development Fund), to help social workers get involved in development of life skills of people, which will lead them to activation and resilience, thereby complementing the efforts of other partner organizations to overcome poverty.The goal of the Project is to support overall 11,000 extremely vulnerable individuals from Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Shirak, and Lori marzes by expanding their access to a variety of social services, social assistance benefits, and promoting their self-employment through the full implementation of social case management practice in Armenia.

As a result of the project, about 6000 beneficiaries will have access to various social services, 5000 beneficiaries will be involved in self-employment and employment support programs, including 300 beneficiaries that will receive small (equivalent to 4000 US dollars) grants for business projects. Trainings will be organized for 200 social workers in the target regions of the project.

“The added value of the Association of Social Workers in this Project, is to help people have their own source of income, businesses through activation and capacitation,. The whole meaning of the project lies in the fact that it is immersed in the methodology of social work - promotion, activation, provision of access to services,” Mira Antonyan said.

Deputy Dean of YSU Faculty of Sociology, Chairperson of the AASW Council Mrs.  Anahit Sahakyan and Social worker of Jermuk community Ms. Mariam Arakelyan also were present at the press conference.

Press Conference coverage by Armenpress: https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1046182.html

Livestream Record of the Press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsOAI47kl8w&t=12s

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