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The role of a children group for the participant, underprivileged children in the family care system 1995–2005
113-135Views:163The aim of this paper is to analyse the methods and effects of a children group, which existed
from 1995 till 2005. The relevance of this group is, that the beginning of this period preludes the
constitution of the Hungarian child protection law. After the transmission period the emerging
social service system provided (or at least tried) supports and services. Those families whose
children were involved in this child group were dealing with unemployment, poverty, lack of
proper housing, abuse, deviance and addictions. The significance of this group that the given
service was easily ductile to the needs of the children and families. -
Conceptual approaches to child vulnerability, child protection contexts
186-202Views:48The examination of conceptual approaches that determine the vulnerability of children and different child protection orientations is not only of scientific significance, but also of policy relevance, as it is an issue that greatly affects the security and well-being of societies. This study uses systematic literature review to examine conceptual approaches to child vulnerability and different child protection contexts in terms of social embeddedness. In addition to theoretical models, which essentially seek to identify the causes of threatening situations, predictive models and studies based on the complexity of risk and protective factors are becoming increasingly prominent. The child protection orientations largely determine the institutional structures and public policy mechanisms developed to protect children. These mechanisms are also largely influenced by the values and the trust represented by society.
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The place and role of children in long commuting families – parental decisions and upbringing
88-103Views:209The study examines families in which one or both partners are commuting for longer periods (hetelés). Our research questions focus on those families who are raising children. As a result, their family life is largely determined by the specific operation based on the changing dynamics of physical, emotional proximity and distance. The analysis which processes qualitative results focuses on children and reveals the changes that have taken place in the family as a result of long term commuting. These include attachment in the family, the care and upbringing of children, and the place and role of the child in the family. In the lives of the families studied, we encountered different parental attitudes and parent-child relationships.
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Help professionals in schools and in local communities, with a particular focus on mental health
161-185Views:65This study was conducted as part of a larger research project aimed at gaining a detailed understanding of rural elementary schools in disadvantaged areas and their environment to formulate recommendations for their development. This paper summarizes international and Hungarian literature that presents the work and methods of professionals working in small settlements, as well as programs targeting disadvantaged children and young people living there, with a particular focus on mental health and school inclusion. The target group belongs to the most vulnerable in society, as they have to face complex problems at a very early age. With this in mind, we have divided the study into two main sections. In the first part, we emphasize the power of community cooperation in and outside of school, presenting practices on both national and international level. In the second section, we present a specific problem that strongly affects the target group, namely alcoholism and substance abuse, and its impact on children’s lives and mental health. The main conclusion of the study is that if we want to improve their living conditions, school performance, and mental health, we need complex, multi-professional cooperation and intervention as early as possible.
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My healthy life: a health and skill developing program in the child care services
109-122Views:256We present a health education and skill development program for two groups (N=30) of 7-14 years old children in this paper. The target group of our program were children in the family care system. In their case, primer prevention regarding a healthy lifestyle is an important goal. Their families often have difficult life circumstances thus the “social culture” of their (Wessely 2003) may endanger their healthy personality development. The program aimed the development of their physical, psychic and mental health, focusing on the holistic understanding of the concept of health according to the bio-psychosocial health paradigm. As a result of the program, we experienced positive outcomes among the children like higher level cooperation skills, more cognitive knowledge about health, development of their communication, improved self expression and expression of emotions. In the group of adolescent children we experienced the improvement of tolerance, empathy, adaptation and problem solving skills. We consider their wish for further education, the forming of their future plans and life goals as a great result.
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„Promise is a nice word, but is it good if we keep it” – A review of the literature on programs designed to develop social skills of disadvantaged children
135-160Views:55Childhood social-emotional development lays the foundation for an individual’s life path. A significant proportion of disadvantaged children born into low-status families have deficits in their abilities. According to the disadvantage compensation approach, the gap can be reduced, and even desirable behaviors can be successfully taught in any community (class, peer group, parents, adults, etc.) with the help of professional experts. In our study, we undertake to provide an overview of disadvantage compensation programs developed for school-age children and younger children, based on international and domestic literature, with the aim of strengthening social competencies. In addition to presenting good examples, our goal is to create a complex and critical picture of programs aimed at developing social competencies, especially domestic programs, based on a qualitative evaluation criteria system, which may be useful in the future for professional efforts aimed at helping and developing disadvantage compensation. The ideas of international and domestic education researchers about good practices show many similarities. We believe that both in the domestic and international arenas there is enough good practice, methodological guidelines, training that strengthens self-awareness and responsibility, and theoretical foundations that can inspire experts (teachers, helpers, parents, civilians, etc.) in effective and enjoyable development activities. However, success can only be ensured through continuous and controlled pedagogical and social support work, impact monitoring, and program review. With detailed knowledge of the situation in Hungary, it can be said that disadvantage compensation is practically competing with falling behind. In lucky cases, the distance between groups, the extent and speed of falling behind can be reduced. The difficulties are exacerbated by the lack of a sufficient number of qualified human resources for catch-up programs, and the development of tools and buildings is uneven and, above all, not continuous. The limitations of the effectiveness of disadvantage compensation cannot therefore be found in the quality of the programs developed on the appropriate conceptual background, but in fundamentally structural reasons. In our article, we critically analyze the domestic and international efforts of the past two decades and draw attention to successful solutions and opportunities for further development.
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Perceptions of families with children and the social professionals working with them on services promoting the well-being and social mobility of families
3-28Views:492In our study, we investigate how families with children living in a disadvantaged sub-region of Northern Hungary, in areas of different settlement size and in settlements belonging to the Budapest agglomeration, perceive the available educational,
education, childcare, health and social services, whether they have any information about them, and what professionals working with families with children think about the education, childcare, health and social services and services available to them.
the professional content and quality of the services provided, and whether
the extent to which they can contribute to the well-being and social mobility of families. Our research included a population questionnaire survey and interviews with professionals and families with children. Our results indicate that children's abilities
the lack of services to develop their abilities, develop their talents and promote their well-being, the
existing education, health and social services with very limited capacity and therefore low quality, and limited access to cultural and recreational opportunities
mobility opportunities for children growing up in disadvantaged families are severely limited. Child welfare social work tools are scarce and social interventions are based on fire-fighting. -
The impact of low social status on educational opportunities
104-119Views:67The aim of the study is to show the impact of low social status and sociocultural disadvantages on children’s educational opportunities. Particular emphasis is placed on disadvantaged small settlements, which often have less favorable indicators, which is also reflected in educational institutions: the proportion of disadvantaged students is high, and their development is often ineffective with traditional pedagogical methods. The study is based on a systematic literature review, which includes international Q1 and Q2 journals as well as domestic studies. The results highlight that the education system has a dual function: it can both mitigate and reproduce social inequalities. Socio-cultural disadvantages consist of complex factors – low parental education, existential insecurity, unstable family structure, minority status, segregation – all of which reinforce each other’s effects at the systemic level. Language use plays a key role, as the use of a limited language code is a disadvantage in school participation and performance. The socio-economic status of the family, early childhood development opportunities, and cooperation between school and family are determining factors in educational success, so improving equal opportunities for disadvantaged students requires a long-term, systemic approach in which schools, families, and communities all play a key role.
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Familyplanning and labour market aspirations among youth in fosterhome
87-109Views:198Several international and national organisations are concerned with the aspect of children. This
essay examines a special group of children and youth who live in fostercare. Their future aspects
are basically determined by the break away from their families. Even they area way from their
familiesf or a short or a long time, becoming an adult is a complex process and many factors
define their lives. Among these factors the environment of the fosterhome and the relationship
with the biological family is essential. The essay focuses on two fundamental dimensions of
becoming an adult: familyplanning and working. Although the desires about their future lives
are quite diverse, the implementation is similarly difficult for each of them. Those who haven’t got the supportive background are hadicapped in many dimensions. In these cases the
childprotection has a leading role. The essay attempt stogive an insight to these young adults’
futureplans while it highlights the dimensions of familyplanning and working. -
The role of family, parenting and parenting styles among juvenile offenders in the light of international literature
90-108Views:221The role of the family is crucial for the development of juveniles, their behaviour and norm-following, and plays a key role in shaping their values and behaviour patterns. While a whole-family upbringing is important, several other factors are also determinants of rule-following behaviour, such as the level of family cohesion, the level of aggression that may be present in the family, and the degree of parental involvement. Parenting style also shapes children’s behaviour and influences the likelihood of offending, with loving, supportive and understanding families being more likely to promote appropriate and compliant behaviour. While positive parental involvement, support, and directive parenting are associated with lower offending rates, neglectful, strict, or overly permissive parenting styles can increase the risk of subsequent offending. Supporting families to provide a stable environment for their children is key, including encouraging positive behaviours or providing resources for families experiencing difficulties.
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Reification, child protection in lock-ups
34-46Views:322This paper examines how the child protection system can address the problems of children and young adults, compensate for childhood disadvantage and promote successful social integration. To what extent are the professional means available within the state structure to achieve all these goals - as declared in the Child Protection Act of 1997. The interpretation of solidarity as a value in child protection is clear, since child protection aims to improve the situation of families affected by child protection problems and to promote their healthy personal development. The study, based on interviews with professionals and experts and a short case study, draws attention to the shortcomings and limitations of the system.
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The Tertiary education plans of disadvantaged secondary grammar school students in Hungary
42-64Views:186My study focuses on tertiary education chances and opportunities of disadvantaged and multiply disadvantaged children and youngsters. The target group of the research consisted of disadvantaged full-time secondary grammar school students who aim to get out of their position and status with the help of further education. Via the interviews I tried to examine the difficult topic of further education from the perspective of the disadvantaged and the multiply disadvantaged students, also aspiring to reveal their notions and fears about the topic. The main goal of my research was to get an insight into the perspective and mentality of disadvantaged and multiply disadvantaged students.
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Fighting child poverty. Family day care centres in Debrecen
244-255Views:141One of today's biggest challenges, present in every country in the world in some form or another, is child poverty. Vulnerable groups include children of unemployed parents, families with three or more children and single parents (Ferge and Darvas 2012).
In the EU-27, children and working-age people are at higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than older people. The extent of child poverty is also influenced by the labour market status of parents, the household in which they grow up, and government interventions (Antuofermo and Di Meglio 2012). Since child poverty and the labour market status of parents are inseparable, in my study I also examine employment and unemployment indicators in our country. -
The Social Ecology of Rural Schools: Family-Community-School Relationships in Cross-National Perspective
76-103Views:79Rural small schools are situated at the intersection of educational and social inequalities, where students’ learning outcomes and overall development are closely tied to the quality of relationships among families, schools, and local communities. Although extensive research has examined parental involvement and social capital, relatively few comparative studies have explored the social ecology of rural small schools-particularly the interrelations between family milieu, community embeddedness, and institutional autonomy. This study addresses this gap through a systematic review of empirical and theoretical research published between 2010 and 2024. The analysis draws on Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, Coleman’s concept of social capital, and Epstein’s typology of parental involvement. Findings indicate that the family-community-school nexus exerts a multi-level and interactive influence on children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development-directly through family practices, indirectly via the quality of parent-school relationships, and structurally through local social capital and institutional resources. A cross-national comparison reveals that while rural schools are universally positioned within structures of educational disadvantage, variations in cultural norms, community organization, and policy frameworks crucially determine whether family and community resources mitigate or reinforce these inequalities. The study concludes that the success of rural small schools depends not on the quantity of resources but on the quality of relationships. Trust, reciprocity, and partnership within the family-school-community triangle are essential foundations of rural resilience. Policy interventions are most effective when they strengthen the community-based and family-centered functions of small schools, embedding parental involvement as an integral element of the learning process.
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Enforcement of Community Approaches in Child Protection Practice: International Trends
70-86Views:270Child protection has changed in important ways on international level in recent years. Child protection as social institution adapts to and follows social change. Global competitions, mobility
of capital and workforce, acceleration of economic processes and interdependence of national
economies, and the economic crises of 2007 has their impact on the operation and workings of
welfare systems. This study examines the trends and tendencies in international child protection practice since the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, what type of child protection
orientations can be distinguished, what kind of characteristics can be described and which way
seems to emerge—as a common challenge—in general in the field of the state’s child protection
activities. The study draws attention to the importance of some topics in international discourse, such as complex needs of the clients, importance of partnerships, support of parenthood and a
range of professional skills and competences to achieve these goals. -
The predictive power of maternal and paternal involvement during high school on students’ higher education efficiency
5-31Views:253Parental involvement encompasses activities that support a child’s development and academic progress. Within this framework, home-based and school-based involvement can be distinguished; however, the literature also identifies a third dimension: academic socialization. This study hypothesizes that higher levels of parental involvement during secondary school positively influence achievement in higher education, despite the fact that most existing research does not address long-term effects. Using a large-scale dataset spanning five countries, we investigate the relationships between maternal and paternal involvement in secondary school and subsequent academic achievement in higher education. Our findings indicate that discussing the importance of learning – an indicator of academic socialization – is perceived as part of mothers’ everyday activities factor, while for fathers, it is associated with value transmission and emotional support factor. Notably, both factors were found to have a positive effect on higher education achievement. Based on these results, public education systems should implement programs that emphasize the long-term significance of learning for both parents and children.
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A jól-lét fogalmának értelmezése az európai szakirodalomban (2009–2014)
16-47Views:755A jól-lét olyan, széles körben használt fogalom, melyben az életminőség különböző dimenziói testesülnek meg. A tanulmány a fogalom európai szakirodalomban történő meghatározásának és használatának felmérése érdekében végzett szisztematikus vizsgálat eredményeit mutatja be. Munkánk alapját az Európai Unió „Measuring Youth Well-Being (MyWeB)” kutatásában résztvevő tizenegy ország kutatóinak közös erőfeszítéseként előállt ismeretek képezték. Egy jövőbeli európai ifjúság-kutatási program elősegítése és előkészítése érdekében kutatásunk résztvevői összegyűjtötték a fiatalok jól-létével kapcsolatos angol nyelven, illetve saját országaik nyelvén 2009–2014 között megjelent tanulmányokat. Azok a munkák kerültek be az általunk megvizsgált anyagok közé, melyek megfeleltek a következő kritériumoknak: a tanulmány a kutatásunkban résztvevő partnerországban végzett kutatás alapján készült, célcsoportjának típusa és kora megfelelt a kívánalmaknak (nem esett a népesség valamilyen szempontból különlegesnek számító kategóriájába és a 10–25 éves korcsoportot ölelte fel), a tanulmány teljes szövege elérhető volt, s megfelelő módszertani alapossággal készült. Az egymást követő, három szakaszban végrehajtott szűrések után 95 db tanulmány maradt, melyet tovább elemeztünk. A jól-lét fogalom vizsgálatának eredményeként kiderült, hogy a koncepció felépítésében hat terület, s az ehhez kapcsolódó indikátorok vesznek részt. Azt találtuk, hogy a jól-lét elsődlegesen pszichológiai jellegű, erőteljesen kognitív, egészséggel kapcsolatos, magatartásbeli és szociális oldalakkal bíró koncepció. Tanulmányunk végkövetkeztetése, hogy a jól-léttel kapcsolatos kutatások során a jelenleginél több figyelmet kellene fordítani a koncepció szociális oldalának, kommunikációs aspektusainak, az intézményi környezetének és az információs társadalomba való illesztettségének vizsgálatára.
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The situation of Roma education in Harghita county – attitudes of pedagogues
75-92Views:176The study presents the attitudes and behaviours of pedagogues, based on interviews with
teachers working with Roma children which constitute the quotidian educational practice. In
absence of institutional programs, infrastructural and personal conditions, the teachers need
to find solutions for the given difficulties. They become the key figures of the integration process
and hence their attitudes and approaches are determining from the point of view of Roma
children’s school efficiency. The target audience of the research are composed by pedagogues,
who teach in elementary schools in the Csiki Basin in Harghita county, where the rate of Roma
learners exceeds 25 percents. Signalling the main directions of the national policy and the
presentation of literature examining the Hungarian-Roma relationship in Szeklerland offer a
broader framework for the interpretation of the subject.
