Philosophical and Pedagogical Aspects of Social Work With Homeless Children

The article analyzes the essence and content of the key concepts, namely «social work» and «homeless children». Emphasis is placed on the relevance of the identified problem in an emergency time for Ukraine, associated with the devastating consequences of the war. The opinion is substantiated that the study of the problems of social work in the proposed context should be carried out basing on the theoretical and methodological foundations of philosophical and pedagogical existentialism, hermeneutics, and noology. The need to use various forms and methods of preventing child homelessness is emphasized. The main areas of prevention of child homelessness in the context of social work are argued, among which material, social, psychological and moral-spiritual socialization take the leading place. Each of them is given a detailed description. Emphasis is placed on the moral and spiritual work, because homeless children «suffer» from the lack of spirituality, insufficiently formed meaning of their existence in society. Feeling inner emptiness, experiencing their own uselessness, loneliness, the child closes in themselves, looking for a way out in «escape». The result of such an «escape» is the asociality of the child’s personality, their emotional instability, aggression, fear, mistrust of others, a feeling of insecurity in themselves and their actions, as well as low self-esteem. It is noted that moral and spiritual socialization, first of all, manifests itself in the parents’ ability for spiritual love, contemplation and striving for improvement, a developed sense of justice and social responsibility towards the child, preservation and expansion of the child’s spiritual space in all life activities. That is why socialization is a powerful safeguard against the growth of child homelessness. On this basis, the main types of work of social services, a social worker with homeless children are highlighted.