Municipal council and provincial council members' perception of social services: The example of Yalova province

In this study, the topic of "Municipal Council and Provincial Council Members' Perception of Social Services: The Example of Yalova Province" was issued and an attempt was made to reveal the council members' perception of social help, social activities and social services for children, disabled people, women and elders in this scope. During the research, the literature was reviewed in the light of the resources which were believed to have a relation with the subject and expected to contribute to the research and development of this subject. In this study, face-to-face interviews were conducted and in-depth interviews were held. The study is a qualitative research. It is one of the first qualitative studies on local administrations and social services at the graduate level. Social service practices for children, disabled people, women, elders and other risk groups are implemented by the central administration. However, the transfer of some social service practices to local administrations is sometimes brought to the agenda. In case of the transfer of the social work activities to local administrations, it is inevitable for local administrators and council members to take part in the authorized decision-making bodies related to these activities. In this case, the service process to be taken by the clients benefiting from the social services (at the individual-group and community level) will be affected by this administrative mechanism. It is thought that the positive or negative development of this effect will be influenced depending on how and as what the local administrators see social services. In this research, it was revealed what perception local administrators and local council members (members of the provincial council and members of the municipal councils) had regarding social services and the viewpoints of the council members on social services were presented. Social service institutions, as in other institutions, have an administrative management mechanism. These organizations are not run only with budget, staff, income-expense etc. activities. Social service organizations provide services to vulnerable client groups, whose subjects are human. After the study, it was revealed that the council members associate their opinions about the social service concept with the action of helping. It was observed regarding the act of helping/receiving help that political factors could affect the social service practices and clientelism was foreseen while the individuals and groups who will receive help are benefiting from/being helped to benefit from the services. It has been witnessed that they are concerned about the integrity of the service standard throughout the country. It was seen that some of the council members predicted that activities could continue in the same way if the social services were transferred to local administrations. However, it is understood that this transfer shaped their attitudes only within the scope of business logic. The research was finalized by presenting suggestions through these results.