Implementation of the Neighborhood Social Workers program in Cyprus

The Neighborhood Social Workers program has been active in all municipalities of Cyprus since December 2024. This initiative is a component of the Social Welfare Services restructuring project, which falls under the EU-funded Cohesion Policy Programme Thalia 2021-2027. The primary objective is to facilitate communication between social welfare services and local authorities to support vulnerable citizens and families. Social workers serve as intermediaries to provide rapid assistance and activate community resources. The program involves mapping community needs to enable data-driven planning and service delivery. By decentralizing operations, the project aims to make the neighborhood a core element of social cohesion. According to the Social Welfare Services, the program enhances local response capabilities for managing social issues. It also establishes a network to identify specific gaps in welfare provision at the municipal level.