HISTORICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PREREQUISITES FOR THE FORMATION OF SOCIAL SERVICE CENTERS IN UKRAINE

Анотація

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the historical evolution of social service centers in Ukraine as key institutions within the national social policy framework. The author traces the transformation of their functions, target groups, organizational forms, and intervention methods from early charitable models to a modern, normatively regulated system of social services. The study identifies five distinct developmental stages: pre-modern (prior to the 20th century), Soviet (1917–1991), post-Soviet (1991–2000), institutionalization (2000–2020), and contemporary (2020–2025). Each stage is examined in terms of its dominant social priorities, beneficiary categories, and methodological approaches. In the pre-modern period, social assistance was primarily religious in nature, grounded in Christian ethics of mercy and care, and implemented through monasteries, parish communities, and charitable brotherhoods. The Soviet era saw the instrumentalization of social work within an ideological framework, emphasizing labor participation and loyalty to the state, with support provided through trade unions, women’s councils, and commissions. The post-Soviet phase marked the emergence of professional social work, notably through the establishment of Youth Social Service Centers and the initial codification of social work as a distinct field. During the institutionalization period, the scope of services expanded, standardized procedures were introduced, and interagency cooperation was strengthened. The contemporary stage is characterized by decentralization, digitalization, and crisis response in the context of war, with social service centers integrated into the National Social Service of Ukraine and focused on supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, and trauma-affected populations. The article draws on verified legal acts, strategic documents, academic sources, and historical records to provide a holistic understanding of the institutional development of social service centers as adaptive agents of support for vulnerable populations. The findings are relevant for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and administrators engaged in the reform and delivery of social services in Ukraine.

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