出版社：Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Department of Social Work
摘要：The social work profession expressed its long-term commitment to the problem of poverty as its primary task already in the 19th century. The often quoted definition by the International Federation of Social Workers states that the social work profession primarily “fights poverty and protects rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups of people helping their integration into society and increasing social inclusion.” However, various surveys worldwide, as well as social work education and practice, indicate that the problem of poverty is still of a marginal interest to the scientific and professional community. Surveys show that social workers often perceive work with people living in poverty as not being “core” or “professional” social work, although the poor make the majority of social work clients in social workers’ everyday work. In addition, there are surveys testifying that the issue of poverty is neglected in curricula of various social work studies worldwide. Therefore, some authors recommend raising awareness of poverty as a crucial framework that will enable understanding and reflecting on the issue, as well as taking action to fight poverty (poverty-aware approach). This paper also analyses the approach stressing empowerment in the work with people living in poverty as one of the crucial contemporary concepts on which present theory and practice of social work are based. It also addresses the importance of raising perception of poverty at different levels, while it directly influences modes of approaching clients living in poverty and the measures undertaken to fight poverty.
关键词：poverty; social work; education; empowerment; perception of poverty
