The outline of the context of social pedagogical assistance for children from social risk families in Lithuania

Abstract

Lithuanian education policy pays ever increasing attention to issues of children from social risk families. This article presents a qualitative study to outline the context of social pedagogical assistance for children from high-risk families. The applied qualitative research uses a semi-structured interview of social pedagogues at secondary school from particular Lithuanian district. The paper analyzes the presumptions of the need of social pedagogical assistance for children from at-risk families and the levels of identification of the assistance. It was found that the social pedagogical assistance presumptions are related to the pupil and family. The need for assistance is identified at child welfare authorities, school and local community levels. Effective organisation of social pedagogical assistance and its provision is ensured by general specialists from different insti- tutions working together.