[PALLIATIVE SOCIAL WORK IN ISRAEL - CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES]

Israel, a young country that constantly absorbs immigrants from different cultures, has a unique social structure. The mosaic of culture and values that exist in it, the delicate balance that exists between religion and state, advanced legislative processes, the central place of the family in individual life, combined with the principles of autonomy in which the health system operates, require deliberate action to formulate solutions and meet current challenges. In this unique space the contribution of the palliative social workers is reflected through the application of models for individual and family assessment, clinical interventions implemented with cultural sensitivity and out of consideration for the family unit as an essential system for treatment planning. This coping occurs in the absence of recognition in the palliative care field as a unique area of expertise that requires specific training for palliative social workers, as exists for the nursing and medical professions. The field of palliative care provides social workers with space for meaningful interventions and channeling the challenges into the opportunity for professional growth, in coming to formulate professional responses to the needs emerging in the rich mosaic of patients and families in Israel.