NATIONAL-PATRIOTIC EDUCATION IN THE SYSTEM OF STATE SOCIAL POLICY: THE ROLE AND POTENTIAL OF SOCIAL WORK

Abstract

The article examines national-patriotic education as an important area of state social policy and identifies the role of social work in its development and practical implementation. It is substantiated that under conditions of social transformation, wartime challenges, and the need to strengthen social cohesion, national-patriotic education acquires not only educational but also significant social and policy importance. It is aimed at fostering citizens’ sense of responsibility for the state, awareness of national identity, respect for historical and cultural heritage, civic values, and readiness to engage in socially beneficial activities.

Social work is considered as an important mechanism for ensuring the interaction between state social policy and the needs of various social groups and population categories.

The potential of social workers in implementing national-patriotic education programs is identified through social support, counseling, educational activities, organization of civic initiatives, volunteer projects, and activities aimed at developing civic engagement. Particular attention is paid to the need to integrate the national-patriotic component into the professional activities of social workers, taking into account the age, social, psychological, and cultural characteristics of target groups.

The article substantiates the expediency of strengthening interagency cooperation among public authorities, local self-government bodies, educational institutions, social services, civil society organizations, and volunteer associations in the field of national-patriotic education. It is proposed to consider social work not only as a system of social support for the population but also as an instrument for developing social responsibility, civic engagement, and societal resilience. It is concluded that the effective combination of social policy instruments and the potential of social work creates favorable conditions for fostering a patriotic, socially active, and cohesive society.