This paper contains a comparative evaluation of the reactions of welfare states to the isomorphic pressures emanating from the European Union based on two case studies taken from the Child and Youth Welfare System. In the European Community different concepts of welfare policy exist. In the unification process every member state has to find answers to the pressure of assimilation invoked by the legislation.
The objective of this explorative study is to show that countries can learn from each other in order to improve their own system of social services.
In the course of the European unification process, the need for both governmental and non-governmental providers of social services to get acquainted with other approaches in member states and to open up to new ideas has become imperative.
One problem in generating this kind of knowledge lies in the fact that the assistance for children and young people and the professions involved in such tasks e. Kornbeck have evolved from very different foundations. On the other hand, we have to deal with a constant quest for more differentiation and diversity see Hessle The structural framework and associated conditions and with it, the methods and strategies employed in the practice of providing social assistance services to children, young people and families differs widely.
Therefore, any comparison is extremely difficult. This report aims to provide a modest contribution to reduce this gap using the application of a particular research approach see below in order to test new ways in the conduct of European studies. It furnishes a framework which provides information on priorities and identifies the directions taken by the respective national youth policy institutions see IARD However, as an instrument to enable comparisons between the respective strategies deployed at the level of problem execution, it seems to be quite insufficient.
