The Institut für Sozialarbeit und Sozialpädagogik (Institute for Social Work and Social Education) (ISS) was formed in 1974. Since 1991 it has been a legally independent, non-profit-making association. lt is financed by compensation from clients for services rendered, operating receipts and by grants from the German Federal Government and from the Federal Association for Workers' Welfare. Its work is supervised by a board of trustees from different disciplines funded from various sources.

The ISS offers a nation-wide service for public and independent bodies which sponsor social work. This includes the following items:

Projects involving

• Consulting in practical matters and practical research;
• Evaluation of pilot projects and novel approaches to general practice;
• Consulting in planning matters/elaboration of plans;
• Organisational and personnel development and advice in such matters;
• Control and administrative reform.

Advisory opinions and expertises

Courses leading to higher qualifications

• Specially aimed at managerial staff who are involved in project management and social management;
• Further education and training courses in relation to specific projects and institutions and courses held at the national headquarters, meeting of experts and conferences on special subjects;
• In service training courses lasting several years and leading to additional qualifications.

Committed to the modern principles of social work today (focusing on personal experience and one's personal situation), ISS mainly implements projects to help young people and families, projects involving work with women, girls and young people, help for adults (adults in particular situations), work with old people and help for the aged and work involving care for the disabled within the framework of the compulsory social insurance scheme (Pflegeversicherung). Particular points of focus are drugs/addiction and migration.

ISS employs an average of 40 staff, 15 to 20 of whom are usually experienced and academically qualified professionals from a variety of disciplines, who often have two university degrees.

To inform the public of the results of our work and our future plans we regularly publish the ISS Annual Reports, the ISS Further Educations Programme and an ISS Directory of Publications, which also draws the readers' attention to the magazine which we publish 3 times a year "Zeitschrift für Migration und Soziale Arbeit".