Social inclusion is becoming one of the most discussed topics in the field of youth work in Slovakia.

The main challenges related to social inclusion of young people in Slovakia are:

• Young people from geographically remote and marginalized communities (Roma young people),
• Young grown-ups leaving the orphanages, re-educational institutions, foster families,
• Youth with para-abilities (especially young people with visual and hearing impairments),
• Young asylum seekers,
• Young homeless people. For more information see chapter 4.1.

The youth social inclusion policy is governed by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and their budget and allovance organisations. See more in chapter 4.2 on the Administration and Governance.

The issue of social inclusion is not enough legislatively saturated in the Slovak republic (Chapter 4.3). In the area of social inclusion of young people Slovak republic finds the legislative support in national and international enactment and documents that were accepted and ratified. Social inclusion of young people is one of the key objectives of the Slovak Youth Strategy 2014-2020. However, the Slovak Republic does not have a separate strategy for the social inclusion of young people. The good news is that the Strategy on Inclusive Education is currently being prepared and should be approved by the Slovak Government in 2021.

There are severel inclusion programmes in Slovakia where children and youth are important target groups e.g. in national programmes for the development of inclusive education, deinstitutionalization of orphanages, development of community centers, field social work and others. For further details see chapter 4.4.

Non-public institutions and non-governmental organizations in Slovakia are particularly active in the supporting excluded groups and in fighting radicalization and extremism (4.5).

The chapter 4.6 addresses to quality services affecting the social inclusion of young people in Slovakia. There is a number of information sources and systems where consultations and advice can be obtained on topics such as housing, health, social assistance, also on specific groups such as people with para-abilities or ethnic minorities. Youth work programmes fostering social inclusion of young people in Slovakia are discussed in the chapter 4.7. Moreover, chapter 4.8 provides brief information on forthcoming policy developments relevant to the topic of the social inclusion of youth in Slovakia.