Abstract

The article aims to highlight how the changes that have occurred in the welfare systems, have modified the organization of services and the operator- user relationship. As a result of the processes of economic, political and cultural globalization, welfare systems which were born and developed in the twentieth century, have had to modify their principles, purposes and functions, to cope with the problems associated with a reduction in public resources allocated to services and with the emergence of new social risks. In the present historical phase, the dynamics of the needs of citizens change and the problem of the new criteria of social inclusion, changes the role of welfare institutions which are asked not only to assist the citizens, but also to let them find autonomously the best solutions, the most appropriate and realistically viable. The role and responsibilities of the social professions inevitably change. Within this perspective of analysis, to enable a helping relationship between operator-user in the reflexive society, initiatives that move in the direction of «awareness» of the problems would be desirable: work in small groups, promotion of mutual self-help groups and empowerment, enabling real network strategies.