This document discusses the importance of spirituality in planning social services. It provides examples showing that those who are able to find meaning and purpose even in difficult situations have greater strength and resilience. Research presented found that families raising a child with Down syndrome who had faith in God reported being more satisfied and having better communication and esteem. The document advocates for a "vertical" approach focused on ethical principles and spiritual transcendence to improve one's ability to face challenges. Social service operators would benefit from developing a spiritual vision to better understand their role and the deeper questions of life they encounter in their work.

1. PlanningPlanning socialsocial servicesservices
WhichWhich prioritiespriorities??
““Verticality in serviceVerticality in service
project”project”

2. ““WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
During the construction of a cathedralDuring the construction of a cathedral
someone asked to three stone cutter:someone asked to three stone cutter:

3. ““As you can see,As you can see,
I'm cutting stones,I'm cutting stones,
said the first”.said the first”.

4. The second answered:The second answered:
““I gain money for meI gain money for me
and my family».and my family».

5. But the third said: “I'm building a big cathedral!”But the third said: “I'm building a big cathedral!”

6. Victor Frankl, during his experience in a NaziVictor Frankl, during his experience in a Nazi
concentration camp, understood that who was able,concentration camp, understood that who was able,
even there, to give a sense to his life, had a surprisingeven there, to give a sense to his life, had a surprising
strength and resistance.strength and resistance.

7. 167 mothers and fathers with sons and167 mothers and fathers with sons and
daughters with Down syndromedaughters with Down syndrome
Are you religious?Are you religious?
Yes.Yes.
(76%)(76%)
Less difficultiesLess difficulties
managing with themanaging with the
son.son. ((sig.sig. 001)001)
Child identity.Child identity.
(sig. 05)(sig. 05)

8. SatisfactionSatisfaction
Proactive, reflective,Proactive, reflective,
preventive Coping.preventive Coping.
““A person with a lot ofA person with a lot of
resources, responsible, andresources, responsible, and
full of principles”full of principles”
(Schwarzer, 1999)(Schwarzer, 1999)
(296**<r<436**; **= sig.<.001)(296**<r<436**; **= sig.<.001)
Seeking spiritualSeeking spiritual
support.support. (r =.320, sig.=.01)(r =.320, sig.=.01)

9. 84 parents had been asked if, as a family, they84 parents had been asked if, as a family, they
use to face difficulties “Having faith in GOD”.use to face difficulties “Having faith in GOD”.
The 47,6% who said to strongly agree with thisThe 47,6% who said to strongly agree with this
statement, were significantly more satisfiedstatement, were significantly more satisfied
(sig. = .000).(sig. = .000).
Besides even esteem and communication wasBesides even esteem and communication was
much more highermuch more higher (sig. = .000)(sig. = .000)..
((esteem, communication, mutual assistance, optimism,esteem, communication, mutual assistance, optimism,
problem solving, family support to achieve autonomy )problem solving, family support to achieve autonomy )

10. Based on an horizontal vision turned to satisfyBased on an horizontal vision turned to satisfy
only one's needs, “verticality” is turned to richonly one's needs, “verticality” is turned to rich
goals characterized by ethical principles, by agoals characterized by ethical principles, by a
way of being which goes over the usualway of being which goes over the usual
awareness to face the higher level of the humanawareness to face the higher level of the human
values and, even more, to realize an actualvalues and, even more, to realize an actual
spiritual transcendent dimension.spiritual transcendent dimension.

11. This orientation, which gives an importantThis orientation, which gives an important
ethical and moral issue, can deeply improveethical and moral issue, can deeply improve
person's skills to found their resources and faceperson's skills to found their resources and face
every day difficulties, sinking its theoreticalevery day difficulties, sinking its theoretical
roots in the deeper comprehension of man androots in the deeper comprehension of man and
his Truly Nature.his Truly Nature.
EDUCARE

12. Where there is faith there is love,
where there is love there is peace,
where there is peace there is God,
where there is God there is bliss.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

13. The planing of the social services, differently forThe planing of the social services, differently for
the different areas, has educational, assistance,the different areas, has educational, assistance,
care, cure, rehabilitation, promoting wellnesscare, cure, rehabilitation, promoting wellness
and formation goals.and formation goals.

14. Operators who go on with this activities, develop aOperators who go on with this activities, develop a
highly social impact work, that for its nature, facinghighly social impact work, that for its nature, facing
every day with the deeper questions of life, needsevery day with the deeper questions of life, needs
steady points, clear horizons in which one can move.steady points, clear horizons in which one can move.
This directions and orientations can be found lookingThis directions and orientations can be found looking
for a deeper sense of the existence, throw afor a deeper sense of the existence, throw a
transformation path which may support thetransformation path which may support the
operators to develop an ethical and a spiritual vision,operators to develop an ethical and a spiritual vision,
a new comprehension of the important personal,a new comprehension of the important personal,
social and spiritual role that they have in thesocial and spiritual role that they have in the
relationship with other person.relationship with other person.

15. Duty without love is deplorable,
Duty with love is desirable,
Love without duty is Divine.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

16. Grazie.

17. References:
Schwarzer, R. (1999). The Proactive Attitude Scale (PA Scale). {On-line}.
Available: http://userpage.fuberlin.de/~health/proactive.htm.
Sathya Sai's Golden Jubilee – Book of Thoughts (sine data) The Convener
Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust Prashanti Nilayam P.O.-
Anantapur Dist. (India)