CHILD WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Kolping Higher Education Institution > CHILD WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Objective of the Child Welfare and Social Security study program is to prepare qualified social work professionals in the fields of child welfare and social security, with necessary knowledge, general and professional skills for the professional activities, who are able to provide social assistance to children and their families to achieve their optimal functioning in the changing society; able to perform practice-oriented empirical research; constantly evolving, involved in the development of child welfare policy, with underlying Christian morality in their activities.

Over the 3 years of full-time studies or 4 years of extended studies, child welfare and social security specialists are prepared, capable to assess the child’s and his/her family’s need for social assistance; to administer social assistance provided to children and their families, to apply different methods of social work in accordance with national and international laws and regulations and professional ethics. We prepare specialists, who are able to develop and implement prevention programs and projects in social services organizations operating in the field of child welfare and social security; able to communicate effectively in the professional environment.

Child welfare and social security program graduates are qualified professionals, ready to provide systematic and comprehensive assistance to children and families in various establishments and organizations providing social services, in order to ensure the child’s well-being and security. Students of the Child Welfare and Social Security study program are prepared to work in the areas of social security, education, health, law enforcement, etc., where there are social worker positions, in the public, non-governmental and private sectors.

Upon completion of this program students are awarded the professional bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.

State code: 653L50010	Granted qualification degree / professional qualification Professional Bachelor in Social Sciences
Study area: Social sciences	The program is registered: 2013
Study field: Social Work
Duration of studies: NL – 3 years, I – 4 years
Extent of the program in credits: 180

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Latvia, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, South Africa.

Students also have the opportunity to practice in various global Kolping network organizations.

FINAL THESIS

Child Welfare and Social Security study program is completed with assessment of the graduate’s competence during the defence of the final thesis. Final thesis is defended after completion of all the subjects in the study program and passing all their exams and completion of all professional practices.

DESCRIPTION OF PRACTICE

Child welfare and social security study program includes three educational practices and final practice. Objective of the practices is to apply the theoretical knowledge and practical skills in practice based on ethical principles of social work. The final practice lasts 3.5 months, so students have an excellent opportunity to test themselves in the field of child welfare. This practice is especially appreciated by our social partners. Students learn to use various methods of social work, to establish and develop security-based relationship with the child and his/her environment, foresee feasibility of provision of social and comprehensive services for the child and his/her family. At the end of practice, students prepare and present practice report.

WHERE CAN STUDENTS DO THEIR PRACTICE?

Child Care Home, Child Day Centre, Family Support Centre, Crisis Centre, Juvenile Interrogation Isolator – Correctional Facility of Kaunas, Kaunas Archdiocese Family Centre, Generation House, Children’s Rights Division, Centre of Social Services, Local authorities, etc.

FURTHER STUDY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates can continue their studies in the second cycle of studies, according to the procedures of the higher education institution.

Upon completion, graduates will be able to work as social workers at the county and municipal social assistance departments, social rehabilitation centres, child development centres, family support centres, social-psychological support services, family help services, crisis centres, temporary accommodation homes for minor mothers with babies, orphanages, social service centres, personal health care institutions, child and adolescent day-care centres, non-governmental organizations operating in various projects and providing social services to children and families.

STUDY SUBJECTS

Study field subjects – Basics of Social Work and Professional Ethics; Theories of Child Development; Communication Psychology; Basics of Sociology; Information Technology; Education and Socialization of the Child; Individual Social Work; Family Psychology; Social Policy; Family Law; Basics of Child and Family Counselling; Administration of Social Services; Crisis Intervention; Social Security Law; Basics of Statistic; S Social Work with Group and Community; Social Aspects of Family Health; Social Work with Children at Social Risk; Child Rights Protection; Management of Social Projects; Research Methods in Social Work (CW).

General subjects – 1st foreign language; 2nd foreign language; Language Culture; Christian Social Teaching; Philosophy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

The graduate will know the psychosocial problems of a child and his/her family and their complex manifestation; the graduate will be well versed in social policy, social security measures, administration of social services and will be able to apply this knowledge in the field of child welfare and social security.
The graduate will be able to carry out practice-oriented empirical research and to apply the research results to the solution of specific psychosocial problems in the field of child welfare and social security.
The graduate will be able to manage the process of social assistance provided to a child and his/her family by applying appropriate methods of social work in accordance with the national and international legislation on child welfare, protection of children’s rights, family law and social security as well as professional ethics.
The graduate will be able to prepare and implement preventive and interventional projects in the organizations of social services functioning in the fields of child welfare and social security.
The graduate will be able to communicate with the client(s), cooperate with representatives from his/her field or other professions as well as relevant institutions in Lithuanian or foreign language in pursuit of the empowerment and social welfare for the child and the family.
The graduate will be able to evaluate and improve his/her professional activities critically, to reflect on his/her professional growth with Christian morality underlying his/her activities.

CHILD WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY SPECIALIST

WHAT IS CHILD WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY?

Child’s welfare is absolutely dependent on other people: parents, grandparents, guardians… In modern society there are many families in which the child’s best interests are ignored, the child is being damaged psychologically and even physically. But children are entitled to a comfortable life, moral and physical education, schooling and sports. They must be given the opportunity to play, learn, freely explore the world. When those responsible for the child are unable to supply the needs of the child, social workers come to the rescue. These specialists are prepared to be able to understand the child and give him/her every opportunity to experience life in a safe, quiet manner and to ensure a comfortable childhood before becoming an adult member of society.

It is important to create for a child an environment that can reveal their individuality and stimulate social progress. To achieve this, we have established the “Kolping school”, which promotes children’s sustainable social, emotional, cognitive and language development. Here, their social skills are developed, with emphasis on autonomy, individuality, security, self-expression according to the child’s developmental changes. And what initiative would You propose, after you become the graduate of the Child Welfare and Social Security studies?

WHO CAN CHOOSE CHILD WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY STUDIES?

If you are altruistic, care about children and their future, have a desire to help the family institutions, then Child Welfare and Social Security studies are for You! How to check if you manage to do this? Observe your reaction when you see the hungry, beaten, experiencing psychological abuse children. If this invokes inside you a stimulus to change the situation and help, to create an attractive environment for this child to grow, you are welcome to study the Child Welfare and Social Security.