Law of Ukraine “On Social Work with Families, Children, and Youth”

The Law of Ukraine “On Social Work with Families, Children, and Youth” establishes the legal and organizational framework for providing social services aimed at supporting families, children, and youth in difficult life circumstances. One of the key aspects of this law is the definition of a broad range of social services, including needs assessment, planning, and coordination of assistance provision. Special attention is given to supporting internally displaced persons, as well as participants of the Anti-Terrorist Operation and their families, who have been affected by armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Article 6¹ outlines the primary tasks of social work, including the provision of state support through social services, assistance, benefits, and compensation. The goal is to improve the living conditions of families and children, especially those affected by the conflict. The law also mandates the monitoring of the effectiveness of these services to ensure adequate assistance for those in need.

Article 17 regulates the activities of social service centers, which operate at the regional, city, and district levels, including in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Kyiv. These centers play a key role in providing support to communities, training social workers, and informing the public about family values and preventing violence against children. This article also provides for the creation of mobile consultation points and training centers to increase the accessibility of social services.

Special attention is given to supporting families affected by the armed conflict, particularly internally displaced persons, Anti-Terrorist Operation participants, and their families. The law provides for social support for such families, as well as for families with orphans, children deprived of parental care, and other vulnerable categories of the population that require additional state support.

In the context of implementing this law, a critical task for national and local authorities is to ensure the effective provision of social and psychological assistance to those affected by the armed conflict. This includes support for combatants, the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons, and the promotion of stable development for children under guardianship or in foster families.