The Board of Collaboration of Social Work Professionals of Welfare Ministry

December 20, 2013 socialWEN Actualities

The Fundamental Guidelines of Professional Social Work Development was approved on the 10th December 2013 by the Cabinet of Ministers. The representatives from SWA were Ieva Lass and Liga Aboltina who participated in the work process of this document.

1. The Director of Social inclusion and Social Work Department of Welfare Ministry, Ilze Skrodele-Dubrovska and professional Dace Zvirgzdina informed the meeting attendants about three activities which are included in this document in order to promote the motivation of social workers and belonging to the profession. They are as follows:

• Methodology courses for social service superiors and social work specialists;
• The Summer School for social workers as a workshops, seminars which will be organized in co-operation with SWA;
• To express one’s thanks and acknowledgement for professional achievements of social workers (expected finances Ls 10 000.00)

2. The welcome party of the competition “The best Social Worker” took place on the 22nd November 2013. In total 49 social workers from all over the country were nominated for this title including three members from SWS – Villija Pakalne, Sandra Darkevica and Solvita Ozola. At the beginning of the New Year the Ministry of Welfare will organize a meeting to discuss criterions, names of nominations and various issues of regulations for next year competition.

3. During the meeting were discussed several amendments of law (The Law of Local Government), which was planned in The Fundamental Guidelines of Professional Social Work Development. The attendants of this meeting have been asked to give the proposals for better formulation of two statements – a) autonomy of function of local government and b) providing social support.

4. The Council of Higher Education reviewed state budget financing in order to support the studies of Social Workers. It was decided to support social work study programs at five accredited higher educational establishments.

The Sub-commission of Social Security of Saeima (Parliament) The Board of Collaboration of Social Work Professionals of the Welfare Ministry on the 25th March 2014