Transfer research project: Social work in daycare centres and family centres in Brandenburg
Social work in daycare centres, also known as daycare centre social work, has been a growing field of activity in Germany for the last ten years. The aim is to mitigate the consequences of social inequality for children's education. This issue is currently under discussion as part of the planned Startchancen programme for daycare centres, which the federal government intends to implement from 2026.
Jugendamt (youth welfare office) of the state capital Potsdam
The transfer research project "Soziale Arbeit in brandenburgischen Kindertagesstätten und Familienzentren" is part of the profile line "Sozialer Raum – Bildung, Partizipation, Gemeinschaft" at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. The co-operation partner is the youth welfare office of the state capital Potsdam (Jugendamt der Landeshauptstadt Potsdam,LHP).
The field of social work in daycare centres or daycare centre social work is now widespread in Germany. Since 2024, daycare centre social work has been regarded as a nationwide quality standard for early education. However, research on how it is implemented and the extent to which it is or can be used to counter the consequences of social inequality has been limited to date. The project therefore aims to make a contribution to closing research gaps and implementing the nationwide quality standard for social work in childcare centres.
This will be done both through a qualitative empirical study and through formats of exchange between science and practice.
A symposium is planned for September 2026 at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, at which good practice and research findings will be presented.
The project is being realised by Prof. Dr Tanja Salem (Department of Social and Educational Sciences) as part of a transfer professorship at the FH Potsdam. Associated partners at the Department of Social and Educational Sciences are Prof Dr Franziska Geib and Prof Dr Karin Borck.
For students: Would you like to write your thesis on social work in daycare centres? If so, please contact us.
