PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AS AN ACTOR OF SOCIAL WORK WITH MARGINALIZED ROMA COMMUNITIES IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Abstract

The social inclusion of marginalized Roma communities is among the key priorities of social policy in Slovakia. Addressing social exclusion effectively requires a coordinated public administration approach that integrates social work, public policy implementation, and community participation. This article is a review-analytical study based on a systematic analysis of the scientific literature, legal regulations, and strategic documents of the Slovak Republic and the European Union, as well as a comparison of domestic and international research findings and their inductive interpretation. The theoretical framework draws on the concepts of social inclusion, community social work, and contemporary public governance. The analysis confirmed that the effectiveness of social work with marginalized Roma communities depends primarily on the quality of public governance, the coordination of public policies, and cooperation among public administration stakeholders. The main barriers identified include fragmented competencies, project-based funding of field and community social work, unequal administrative capacities of local governments, and insufficient evaluation of policy effectiveness. The article also presents an original model for coordinating public administration actors involved in social work with marginalized Roma communities. The findings are consistent with contemporary public governance theories emphasizing the importance of integrated governance, participation, and cross-sectoral cooperation in addressing complex social challenges. The main contribution of the article lies in linking social work theory with public administration concepts and in proposing recommendations aimed at strengthening policy coordination, ensuring more stable funding for social interventions, and enhancing the professional capacities of public administration at all levels of governance.