"The core of Article 20(1) of the Basic Law reads: "The Federal Republic is a democratic and social federal state.""
The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany already refers to the social orientation of the country. In this context, the social aspect is just as important as adherence to the democratic basic order. Germany is a social state.
The Federal Government is also obliged to publish a social report in which it presents the respective scope and significance of its social policy achievements. The multitude of areas affected and influenced by social policy is manifold and incalculable. It is impossible for anyone to escape the impact of social policy. From birth onwards, citizens of the Federal Republic are subject to the regulations and institutions of social policy. Thus social policy has an impact on health, family and labour policy, among other things. This branching out can already be seen clearly in the ministries. Although there is a Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, social policy also has an impact in the areas of the Ministry of Family Affairs, the Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Finance.
This paper attempts to clarify which institutions are involved in the implementation of social policy in the Federal Republic. In this context, social work should be mentioned as an instrument of social policy. But what is meant by social work? To what extent is social work an instrument of policy or is it not only an executive element but itself an important part of policy? Which areas of social policy are influenced by social work and to what extent does social work influence social policy? Here it is important to look at the relationship between these two parties. Is it subject to change over the years or is there a constant pattern of action and orientation? In the following, social work will be examined more closely using the concrete example of child and youth welfare, which is a focal point of social work. The focus of the work will not be on the exact presentation of the working methods, the various institutions and the problems of social work, but rather to establish the relationship to social policy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is Social Work?
2.1 The tasks and objectives
2.2 The areas of work
3. What is social policy?
3.1 A definition
3.2 Social policy institutions
4. Social Work and Social Policy
4.1 The foundations of social policy and social work
4.2 The historical development up to 1945
4.3 Developments after 1945
5. The "activating" welfare state today
5.1 Individual or general help?
5.2 The "activation" of social work
5.3 "Educational" social work
6. Child and youth welfare
6.1 The institutions
6.2 The tasks
6.3 An institution of education?
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the complex and evolving relationship between social work and social policy in Germany, specifically focusing on how these two fields interact within the framework of the modern welfare state and using child and youth welfare as a primary case study.
- Theoretical definition and historical development of social work and social policy.
- The influence of the "activating" welfare state on the objectives and methods of social work.
- The role of child and youth welfare as an interface between social and educational policy.
- Mutual dependency and institutional independence of social work and policy.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 The historical development up to 1945
An exact beginning of welfare state action of any form cannot be determined. Already in the late Middle Ages there were various poor welfare agencies that took care of the needy. Likewise, the medieval guilds took over various social services, such as health care. The first steps towards social work took place from the middle of the 19th century in parallel with the development of a profound social policy. The origin of social work can be found in the classic care of the poor, which was obliged to support those in need. However, the care of the poor was a matter for the local administrations. Throughout the Reich, only which municipalities and municipalities were responsible was determined, but the manner of aid was the subject of the municipalities themselves. Only slowly did an awareness of helping those in need grow and reception and training institutions for Social professions. Denominational organizations often took over these tasks.
A major step in the development of social policy was taken in the 1890s. In addition to the emergence of health, accident and old-age insurance, the less noticed social grievances were also increasingly taken care of. A social consciousness emerged. By generalizing the protection of the large layers of the Workers, sick and Old through social policy measures, it was possible for municipal social work to concentrate on smaller problems, as large mass grievances were solved or taken out of the view of the municipalities. Already here a relationship between social policy and the social work that arises with it crystallizes. While social policy deals with mass phenomena and tries to hedge general risks, social work is based on people's individual concerns and needs, detached from generally applicable needs.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the comprehensive nature of social policy in Germany and defines the research scope regarding the interaction between social work and political institutions.
2. What is Social Work?: Explains the conceptual evolution of social work as a scientific discipline and its practical tasks of solving both individual and general social problems.
3. What is social policy?: Defines social policy as an essential state framework for protecting citizens from risks and managing public affairs to address social disadvantages.
4. Social Work and Social Policy: Analyzes the historical and functional interdependency between social work and social policy from pre-1945 origins to post-war developments.
5. The "activating" welfare state today: Investigates how the modern welfare state shifts the focus of social work toward employability and educational outcomes.
6. Child and youth welfare: Discusses the specific role, legal foundations, and institutional integration of child and youth welfare within the broader social and educational systems.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the essential, complex, and mutually dependent relationship between social work and social policy as they both address the human condition.
Keywords
Social Work, Social Policy, Welfare State, Child and Youth Welfare, Activation, Employability, Social Security, Educational Poverty, Institutional Cooperation, Social Problems, Subsidiarity, Social Services, Empowerment, Human Rights, Social Justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
This work explores the intricate and shifting relationship between social work and social policy in Germany, analyzing how they influence one another while remaining institutionally independent.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
The text covers historical developments, the definitions of social work and social policy, the concept of the "activating" welfare state, and the specific application of these themes in the field of child and youth welfare.
What is the research goal of the study?
The study aims to clarify the roles of various institutions in implementing social policy and to understand to what extent social work acts as an instrument of politics versus an independent force.
Which methodology is applied in this work?
The work employs a literature-based analysis of the historical, theoretical, and structural developments of the German welfare state, supported by concrete examples from child and youth welfare.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the evolution of social welfare from the 19th century to the present, discusses the transition to an "activating" welfare state, and evaluates the growing integration of education into social work.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Social Work, Social Policy, Welfare State, Activation, Employability, Child and Youth Welfare, and Social Justice.
How has the role of child and youth welfare changed in the "activating" welfare state?
It has shifted from being purely supportive and auxiliary to becoming a central partner of the educational system, tasked with preparing individuals for the labor market through lifelong learning.
What does the "activating" welfare state mean for individual citizens?
It implies a shift from providing basic material security to promoting equal opportunities, where citizens are expected to actively participate in integration measures and labor market efforts.
- Quote paper
- Maik Ruhnau (Author), 2009, The Relationship Between Social Policy and Social Work, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1162873
