Giving life skills to adolescents in orphanages "An example of group oriented social work intervention"

Children are vulnerable and cared for due to many problems such as domestic problems, the existence of physical and psychological problems of the parents, the death of one or both of their parents and the consequence of their orphans, neglect or abuse, economic problems, marriages of children, abandonment by their parents. Social work intervention is vital in solving the problems faced by children under protection. In this study, the effectiveness of social work intervention with groups in terms of gaining and strengthening the life skills of male adolescents between the ages of 13-18 under institutional care was examined. Semi-structured group-oriented social work intervention technique was applied to male adolescents under protection and care. For this purpose, the research model was planned as intervention research. Group-oriented social work intervention was carried out twice a week for a total of twelve sessions. "The Life Skills Scale" test was applied before and after the group-oriented social work intervention and the changes in the selected life skills were evaluated by comparing the scores of the adolescents before and after the test. As a result of group-oriented social work practices comparing the scores of the adolescents before and after the test, the most positive change was measured in decision-making / problem solving life skills. The least developed life skill was observed as interpersonal relationship life skill. In addition, it has been measured that adolescents show positive changes in gaining and strengthening anger control life skills and stress coping life skills. In addition to these results, it was observed that adolescents benefited from the group process by developing other life skills. Key Words: Child Under Protection and Care, Life Skills and Group Oriented Social Work Intervention