Major Policy Trends in Selected European Countries

Martin B. Tracy, Ph.D. Social Insurance Research International 1519 Canterbury Drive Murray, Kentucky

Major Trends Trend in western Europe toward shifting responsibility for services to communities. Trend in western Europe toward shifting responsibility for services to communities. Reduced resources from central government with more expectations from local communities and charitable organizations. Reduced resources from central government with more expectations from local communities and charitable organizations.

Principle of Subsidiarity Prevalent in France and Germany. Prevalent in France and Germany. Decisions are made as often as possible at the local level with citizen involvement. Decisions are made as often as possible at the local level with citizen involvement. Local community action is preferred, but may require regional or national action if justified. Local community action is preferred, but may require regional or national action if justified.

Partnerships Program accountability is based on strong partnerships and teamwork across public and private sectors and various levels of delivery, including consumer and community participation. Program accountability is based on strong partnerships and teamwork across public and private sectors and various levels of delivery, including consumer and community participation.

Specific Example: Germany National Association of Mother Centres: Mother-children neighborhood centers that combine professional and voluntary workers. National Association of Mother Centres: Mother-children neighborhood centers that combine professional and voluntary workers. Provide opportunity for mothers to network and become integrated into society. Provide opportunity for mothers to network and become integrated into society. Strong focus on prevention. Strong focus on prevention.

Specific Example: Germany Social-Educational Family Services: An intensive “wrap-around” model for families who do not have access to traditional social work services. Social-Educational Family Services: An intensive “wrap-around” model for families who do not have access to traditional social work services. Wrap-around is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary team approach. Wrap-around is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary team approach.

Specific Example: England Save the Children Centers: Family- centered programs similar to German Self-Help. Save the Children Centers: Family- centered programs similar to German Self-Help. Assistance for mothers with practical problems of daily living and child rearing, as well as day care. Assistance for mothers with practical problems of daily living and child rearing, as well as day care. Vital role in creating networks and re- integration into society. Vital role in creating networks and re- integration into society.

Specific Example: England John Grooms: Charity that provides services for people with disabilities. John Grooms: Charity that provides services for people with disabilities. Emphasizes “mainstreaming” into normal society and work. Emphasizes “mainstreaming” into normal society and work.

Specific Examples: France Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF). Main provider of family and child benefits. Semi-public within government, but managed by a national council composed of elected representatives of trade unions, associations, and other public bodies. Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF). Main provider of family and child benefits. Semi-public within government, but managed by a national council composed of elected representatives of trade unions, associations, and other public bodies.

Specific Example: France Social Co-operatives: Local initiatives that provide services for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, people requiring home support or home care, and varying other services for the elderly. Social Co-operatives: Local initiatives that provide services for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, people requiring home support or home care, and varying other services for the elderly.