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The 3/2025 issue proposed a challenging and daring, always topical and interesting,
dynamic and surprising theme for social specialists: the word and the importance of
stories in social work alongside art and how it shapes the social world.
The issue includes articles that bring to the forefront research and discussions about
the importance of stories in the work of a social worker, about how art heals, restores or
soothes, about how the word transforms and reinvents the vulnerabilities of our times.
The importance of art in the work of a social worker has been, and always will be, an
important resource. Regardless of how it is used, art is a tool whose impact, positive and
transformative, is always argued by both social workers and social service recipients,
implicitly their families. Art brings freedom in social intervention, it brings change and
personal development, it brings a perspective that classical methods of intervention are
more difficult to outline (Oliveira, Carvalho, 2024). However, using alternative methods
in social practice requires both good training of specialists and the openness of beneficiaries and their families (Patel, Soren, 2025).
Art and stories are not just an alternative method, but a form of deep reconnection
with the self and others. This idea is also supported by the international research brought together in the volume coordinated by Bos and Huss (2023), which highlights that artistic practices – from participatory theatre to art in prisons or marginalized neighborhoods – function as symbolic spaces for social transformation, empathy and identity reconstruction.
Thus, the initiatives presented here are part of the paradigm of social art, globally recognized as a valid tool for intervention. The articles brought together in this issue highlight the transformative power of the word and human sensitivity in the context of everyday social practice. These contributions bring to the fore the deeply relational dimension of practice and offer a framework for reflection on the profoundly humanizing and formative role of art and storytelling.
Adrian‑Nicolae Dan, in his article “Building Bridges for Early Autism Detection:
Results of a Developmental Screening Initiative in Romania”, draws attention to the
importance of early diagnosis of developmental delays in children. The article emphasizes
the importance of early diagnostic screening, but also the extremely important role of
specialized services and personnel. The author presents the results of a pilot program
initiated in Bucharest, which aimed to identify the prevalence of developmental delays
in children aged 1 to 3 years in certain kindergartens, including autism spectrum disorders
(ASD).
Adriana Lavinia Bulumac, in her article “The Role of Spirituality in Alcoholism
Recovery in the Context of 12‑Step Programs”, brings to the forefront the role of spir -
ituality in AA groups – Alcoholics Anonymous. The article proposes a unique approach
and highlights the importance of spirituality in the recovery process as well as its role in
the groups, helping to unite and facilitate the healing process.
The following material invites us to reflect on the importance of motherhood in early
mental development. Mariana Costache (Buceanu), in her article “The Role of the
Maternal Function in Early Psychological Development”, explores the role of the mater-
nal function starting from the main theoretical contributions of Donald Winnicott, Mel -
anie Klein, André Green. The analysis is extended by integrating the social theories
formulated by Earl Babbie and Malcolm Payne, which emphasize the continuity between
primary affective support and social support structures. The mother‑child relationship is
conceptualized as the prototype of the capacity for symbolization, emotional regulation
and social integration, the key and framework for the future adult’s becoming.
Cătălin Ionete invites us to learn about “The Lucifer Effect during Probation”. The
article has a novel touch and brings us, through the author’s experience, close to a real -
ity that he captures with the eyes of a fine researcher. Starting from the idea that if rules are “formal, simplified ways of controlling informal and complex behaviors” (Zimbardo),
then the conflict between rules and reality is guaranteed, even when attempting to regulate a relatively trivial dimension such as clothing. How does the Lucifer effect translate into the behaviors of people under the supervision of the Probation Service, Bucharest?
Gheorghița Nistor and Beatrice Elena Lascu, in the paper “Aspects of Quality of Life
in Hemophilia Patients and the Awareness of Socio‑Medical Implications among the
General Population”, highlight another important social aspect, starting from existing
statistical data at international and national level. Thus, the paper talks about the social,
medical and professional risks that affect the quality of life of patients facing rare diseases (hemophilia). The level of knowledge of these rare diseases is described in the context of access to treatment and therapeutic regimens for this category of patients, the psycho‑social implications, as well as the involvement of the Romanian state in the management of the condition by funding national health programs.
Mihaela Popa and Ema Dincă, in their article “Therapy and Support of Social Work-
ers for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease”, emphasize the importance of dance in the
management of Parkinson’s disease. The research addresses both the role of dance as a
diagnostic management method and the importance of the multidisciplinary team and
professionals in supporting the family and the patient.
Emanuel Adrian Sârbu, in “Towards a New Theory on Suicidal Behavior: Suicide as
an Incapacity to Cope”, presents the results of a comprehensive research on suicide in
the first 25 years after the fall of communism in Romania; different perspectives from
different scientific fields are brought together in order to propose a new theory on suicidal behavior.
In her research “Narrative Stories of Refugee Women from Ukraine”, Loredana
Florentina Bozariu not only highlights the suffering and resilience of these women, but
also emphasizes the need for an ethical, empathic and individualized intervention approach.
By facilitating narrative expression, social care professionals can contribute to the heal -
ing and integration process. The study highlights the importance of narrative storytelling
in understanding and supporting Ukrainian refugee women, providing a valuable frame -
work for the expression and validation of personal experiences.
Georgiana‑Cristina Rentea’s article, “Learning between Screens: Social Work Stu-
dents Navigating Education during the COVID‑19 Pandemic”, presents the findings of
a qualitative study that explored the learning experiences of third‑year students, future
social workers, during the pandemic. The results of this study reveal the concerns and
challenges that students encountered during their years of academic training, conducted
online, due to the pandemic context.
At the end of this issue, we bring to the attention of social specialists two recent
editorial publications: Recurența abuzului și neglijării copilului: analiza riscurilor și
factorilor determinanți din perspectivă teoretică și aplicativă (The Recurrence of Child
Abuse and Neglect: The Analysis of Risks and Determinant Factors from a Theoretical
and Practical Perspective), Oana Lăcrămioara Bădărău, 2025, București: Pro Universi -
taria, 200 p., and, the second editorial publication, Arta stradală și schimbarea socială
(Street Art and Social Change), Rebeca Cojocaru, 2024, București, Tritonic, 156 p.
This issue brings together research that reinforces the transdisciplinary potential of
art and narrative in social work. The story becomes a vector of transformation and reconnection. Together, the presented articles support the idea that alternative methods, used with professional rigour, can contribute to the humanization of social intervention, fostering real processes of change.
References
Boss, E., Huss, E. (2023). Using art for social transformation: International perspective for social
workers, community workers and art therapists. Routledge.
Oliveira, J., Carvalho, M. I. (2024). Art‑based social work experiences in Portugal. Journal of Social
Work Practice, 39, 2, 239‑255. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2024.2411051
Patel, S., Soren, L. (2025). Harmonizing music and social work: Leveraging Indian knowledge systems
for holistic community empowerment. Sangeet Galaxy e‑Journal, 14, 1, 348‑368. http://www.
sangeetgalaxy.co.in
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