This empirical research on children’s poverty and the accompanying risk behavior was conducted in the Baktalórántháza micro-region, in one of the most disadvantaged micro-regions of Hungary. The study, completed in 2023, was conducted utilizing three methods, a questionnaire for families, interviews, and focus group interviews with social professionals working in the settlements. The region is one of the ten micro-regions with the highest poverty rate in the country. The majority of the population only has an elementary education, and the proportion of graduates is much lower than the national average. The proportion of households with three or more children is higher than the national average and the proportion of unemployed people in households with children is twice as high as the national average. Based on the experience of social workers working in the area, in addition to smoking and drinking alcohol, the consumption of psychoactive and psychotropic substances has increased among adolescents and young adults. Based on various indicators, children regularly consume illegal drugs. The origin and composition of these drugs are typically unknown. According to the reports by drug users, everyday life is easier, and they can escape from problems when under the influence of drugs. Based on the observations of experts, the consumption of various psychoactive substances has harmful effects on behavior, health, learning, and family life. School performance and the ability to think and learn decrease. Drug users are dissatisfied with their lives, have problems with social relationships, engage in partner violence, and may develop antisocial behavior in their lives.

In the training of social work students and in the continuing education of social, mental health and medical professionals there is a wide range of opportunities to use simulation techniques. Simulation can be described as “a pedagogy using a real-world problem in a realistic environment to promote critical thinking, problem solving, and learning”.

Report on the annual delegate meeting and professional conference of the European region of the IFSW (International Federation of Social Workers) held in Prague in May 2023. The Hungarian Association of Social Workers (HASW) participated in the event with 4 people in person and online. The article summarizes the professional topics and proposals around which the conference was organized. Beszámoló az IFSW (International Federation of Social Workers / Szociális Munkások Nemzetközi Szövetsége) Európa régiójának 2023. májusában Prágában megrendezett éves küldöttgyűléséről és szakmai konferenciájáról. A Szociális Munkások Magyarországi Egyesülete (SzMME) 4 fővel vett részt az eseményen jelenléti és online formában. A cikk összefoglalja azokat a szakmai témákat, felvetéseket, melyek köré a konferencia szerveződött.