A Short History of the ISS
"Constant change has become everyday practice"
The foundation phase in the seventies and eighties
The transitional phase in the early nineties
Concept development in the late nineties
"Constant change has become everyday practice"
In 1972 Wolfgang Bäuerle and Harry Lüdicke submitted their first draft for an Institute for Social Work and Social Education. The aim of the institute was to have a strong practical component that would enable the concrete transfer of scientific knowledge to every practice. In addition, the degree of innovation among social work authorities was to be reinforced through further education.
To this day, that very draft is still rooted in the ISS philosophy as a practice-based research institute and also determines the self-image, the range of themes, offerings and services as well as the concrete work in projects in cooperation with authorities involves in "social practice".
Initially focusing on the triangle youth work, migration and social work, the institute dealt with issues concerning gender equality, the penal system, persons in special social situations as well as social management. The central focus remained virtually unchanged throughout the decades: Scientifically based practice development in social work and social education in cooperation with authorities involved in social work.
The foundation phase in the seventies and eighties
In 1974, the ISS was established as the Gesellschaft für Sozialforschung und Sozialplanung (GSS) (Society for social research and social planning), a society of the Bundesverbandes der Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) (Workers Welfare Federal Association).
With their relocation from Rolandseck (Remagen near Bonn) to Frankfurt am Main at the turn of 1975/1976, the ISS was accepted as a federally subsidized institution. This partial federal funding, an annual grant by the Federal Workers Welfare Association and self-generated income results in the ISS-typical mixed financing that forms the structural tension between "company and public authority", resp. between market orientation, third-party funding and services in the interest of the federation.
Topics & fields of activity
The first ISS project - a bit atypical - was a socio-political support program for the Kiel Week, placing increased emphasis in the seventies on socio/pedagogical educational courses as a new offering for youth work and the effect of educational work. In addition, the fight against poverty within the framework of accompanying research has become a principal topic for the European Community.
The eighties saw an increase in social work with foreigners, institutional education and target group oriented youth work. In addition, ISS consults local government in implementing their social work-related activities. Qualifying specialists in particular with regard to the management of social organizations has also become a main focus of advanced and further training programs.
The transitional phase of the nineties
A Board of Trustees consisting of members from various disciplines was appointed in 1986 which aids in the institute's conceptual further development, which in 1990 resulted in a new layout reflecting a clearer hierarchy, division of labor and management responsibilities.
In 1991, the ISS separated itself from the GSS and became an independently registered association. The foundation also paved the way for the institute's self-image. As its self-proclaimed philosophy, the ISS undertakes to "further developments (innovations) in social work with practical consulting and practical research and to base social practice on applicable technical standards".
The institute's Corporate Identity provides a foundation for offerings that describe the ISS range of activities and services to this day. Besides expert assessments and reports, this also involves projects for
- practical consulting and practical research;
- scientific support of pilot experiments;
- planning consultation/development;
- organizational/personnel development and consulting;
- management and administrative reform.
In addition, the institute has a regular offering of qualification facilities specially designed for management staff in project and social management, project and institution-related as well as federal advanced and further training measures, expert meetings and symposiums as well as long-term on-the-job training programs and further qualification.
In order to guarantee the successful transfer of knowledge from theory and research to practical social work, the ISS works in very close collaboration with other scientific institutes and authorities as well as with all public and independent social work bodies. As part of this service orientation, project results are made accessible to the (specialist) public through various forms and forums.
For an overview of ISS publications (series, newsletters, the magazine Migration und Soziale Arbeit, etc.) please follow the link.
Topics & fields of activity
The internal restructuring of the ISS, the association-related transition and the changes occurring in the industry in terms of supply and demand orientation require the constant thematic re-adjustment of ISS.
The target groups "girls, families and the elderly" receive an increasing amount of focus and in view of the growing economic tendencies in social work institutions, more content and techniques of social management are being dedicated to management levels as well as projects concerning organizational development and consulting.
- Social work related to the aid of youths and families has become particularly significant with the enforcement of the new Child and Youth Services Act, which now involves a hitherto unknown planning obligation for (regional) youth welfare offices. Here ISS is actively involved in implementing consulting and support measures.
- Projects directed at aiding adults and the elderly (e.g. in Halberstedt and Brandenburg) such as people in early retirement on the development of new vocational or even community-related perspectives.
- In the area of organizational development and social management, the institute focuses on projects designed to support social authorities, welfare and institutional organizations in their establishment and restructuring measures. Since 1993, qualification in the area of voluntary work has become a focal point in advanced and further training and organizational development .
The early and mid nineties brought new (socio-)political challenges: Project themes are increasingly characterized by topics such as the job market, poverty as well as aggression and violence.
The topic of drugs and addiction was added in 1993 and in 1995 the on-the-job advanced training program as consultant for personnel and organizational development in public authorities as well as a training program in youth welfare planning and mediation.
Concept development in the late nineties
In 1999, an internal quality management and assurance project was initiated at ISS. During its development, the ISS Corporate Identify was reduced to a single formula as a result of (almost) 30 years of institutional development and experience: "Social justice is the fundamental value and central guiding principle for all activities undertaken by the ISS-Frankfurt am Main".
The ideal-typical analysis cycle of concrete living conditions and requirements onsite and the respective development of models and concepts as well as practical trials in projects remain the foundation on which ISS basis its project work and self image. The nationwide transfer of the results and acquired knowledge finds its way into practical social work via advanced and further training programs as well as conferences, publications and committee and organizational activities. Through its consequent transfer of results, ISS has proven its strength as a scientifically-based far-reaching service institute.
Topics & fields of activity
Under Projects you can find some brief descriptions of ongoing and completed research projects conducted by ISS since 2000.
Management of ISS and ISS e.V.
ISS Chairmen
1974 to 1978 Wolfgang Bäuerle
1978 to 1990 Bernd Maelicke
ISS Directors
1990 to 1997 Dieter Kreft
since 1998 Hans-Georg Weigel
Chairpersons of the ISS e.V.
1990 to 1996 Manfred Ragati
1997 to 2004 Helga Henke-Berndt
since 2004 Rudi Frick
