From social work practice to policymaking: social policy problems and the flow of information within German welfare associations

Abstract

As hybrid organisations, German welfare associations (WAs) are active in both social service provision and social policy advocacy. Their political influence stems partly from direct engagement with service users, which provides them with unique insights. Despite the acknowledged neo-corporatist influence of WAs, empirical evidence on the organisational mechanisms through which social work practice informs their advocacy work is lacking. Drawing on a case study of reforms of basic income schemes for children, this article analyses how three leading WAs collect and aggregate practice-based social work insights. Research methods included qualitative interviews and document analysis. The findings show that these WAs use formal structures and informal channels, to process practice-based input. Member organisations communicate practical challenges and emerging issues upwards to state and federal levels; horizontal exchanges inside and between WAs contribute to consolidating information into unified positions. However, internal processes can filter practice-based perspectives as WAs navigate tensions between membership responsiveness and political influence. Overall, the findings illuminate both the potential and the limitations of these WAs’ internal knowledge-sharing structures for integrating social work knowledge into advocacy positions.

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