PROBLEMS OF EFFICIENCY, ADDRESSABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE CHILDREN’S SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM IN UKRAINE

Анотація

This article examines a comprehensive study of the current state of the child social protection system in Ukraine, focusing on its effectiveness, targeting, and accessibility. A SWOT analysis of the existing model is conducted, identifying the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that influence the protection of children’s rights. An analysis of the modern system of social protection of children in Ukraine indicates the presence of important strengths that create a basis for development: a developed legislative framework, strategic documents, a network of social service centers, active digitalization and support from international partners. At the same time, the identified weaknesses significantly limit the effectiveness of the system. Among them are the fragmentation of interagency cooperation, the lack of clear criteria for assessing performance, unequal access to services in rural areas, staff shortages, slow implementation of deinstitutionalization and regulatory obsolescence. Opportunities for improvement include expanding community participation in service planning, introducing case management as a basic model, developing alternative family forms of upbringing, and responding promptly to crisis situations through digital platforms. At the same time, external threats - war and its social consequences, the risk of funding cuts, bureaucratic obstacles, public distrust, and institutional resistance to reforms - can offset positive developments. The impact of major reforms – deinstitutionalization, decentralization, the introduction of case management, and digitalization – on the quality and timeliness of social services provision is analyzed. The findings indicate that, despite the existence of an advanced legal framework and strategic policy documents, significant challenges persist, including unequal access to services, insufficient targeting of programs, staff shortages, fragmented interagency coordination, and the slow adoption of innovative approaches, all of which are further exacerbated by the consequences of the ongoing war. The research emphasizes the need to harmonize national legislation with international standards, strengthen the institutional capacity of social protection bodies, expand the network of services within communities, actively use digital tools, and enhance the professional potential of specialists in the field.

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