Association of Centers for Social Work of Serbia is business and professional association, formed as an answer to the aggravating position of these institutions that are only conductors of direct social care protection on the territory of Serbia.

Period of economical instability, wars, international isolation and other problems which followed Serbia in the last years directly reflected on the work of social care centers. General social, economical and political situation caused considerable social pressure on the social care centers which were no longer in position to fulfill the needs of socially excluded groups (old people, refugees, invalids, single parents, unemployed people, families at risk, etc.). Significantly weaken Center (considering the staff, finances, facilities, etc.), considering the needs, as the only social care institution in the local community, couldn't manage to provide the availability and the quality for various services for the great number of vulnerable groups that needed protection.

In order to fulfill the real needs of the users and giving help and support to the ones who provide those services (social care center's employees in Serbia), in 2003. there was formed business and professional association - ASSOCIATION OF CENTERS FOR SOCIAL WORK OF SERBIA. It consists of all social care centers in Serbia - 153 centers with about 2000 professional employees. There are around 400.000 people in Serbia who are in the worse social position and who are under the social center care.

The main aims for the Association are:

The Association's vision is to create the efficient system of social care which provides available and quality services for a large number of vulnerable social groups.

So far Association has accomplished numerous results and realized some of its goals: gathered almost all social care centers in Serbia with the same idea.

In the partnership with the Ministry of Work and Social policy of Republic of Serbia, Association realized numerous professional gatherings. Some of the discussed topics were: Reform of social care, Decentralization of social care system and development of the integral model, Role and tasks of local self-government in the implementation of the social care development strategy. It became a partner in the project Reforms of social policy, Constant conference of cities and municipalities. Association is a partner and technical support for the Ministry of work and social policy in the process of implementation the Strategy for birth stimulating. It accomplished important international cooperation with the Community of social care centers of Slovenia and it became member of European Social Network.