An Understanding of Social Workers about the Perspectives of Professional Practice with Children and Youth
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Petrauskienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rita Raudeliūnaitė

Abstract
The aim of this article is to disclose an understanding of social workers that work in the sector of social services for children and youth about the perspectives of professional practice with youth. A semi-structured interview method was applied. Interview questions covered the following themes: the features of organizations that work with children and youth, the expression of informal education and preventive work in social work practice and the characteristics of the interaction of the workers with youth.The obtained data were analyzed using the method of content analysis. The practice of social work with children and youth is understood by the research participants as a sensitive assistance interaction with every separate person, as the development of opportunities of informal education for different youth groups, as the reflection on professional experience and the reception of changes, when supporting the initiatives of the organizations that work effectively, as the development of interprofessional, inter-institutional and international cooperation.

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