Major Policy Trends in Selected Major Policy Trends in Selected European Countries European Countries

Martin B. Tracy, Ph.D.Martin B. Tracy, Ph.D.Social Insurance Research InternationalSocial Insurance Research International1519 Canterbury Drive1519 Canterbury DriveMurray, Kentucky 42071-3250Murray, Kentucky 42071-3250mbtracy@murray-ky.netmbtracy@murray-ky.net

Major TrendsMajor Trends

Trend in western Europe toward Trend in western Europe toward shifting responsibility for services to shifting responsibility for services to communities.communities.

Reduced resources from central Reduced resources from central government with more expectations government with more expectations from local communities and from local communities and charitable organizations.charitable organizations.

Principle of SubsidiarityPrinciple of Subsidiarity

Prevalent in France and Germany.Prevalent in France and Germany. Decisions are made as often as Decisions are made as often as

possible at the local level with citizen possible at the local level with citizen involvement.involvement.

Local community action is preferred, Local community action is preferred, but may require regional or national but may require regional or national action if justified. action if justified.

PartnershipsPartnerships

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

Specific Example: GermanySpecific Example: Germany

National Association of Mother National Association of Mother Centres: Mother-children Centres: Mother-children neighborhood centers that combine neighborhood centers that combine professional and voluntary workers.professional and voluntary workers.

Provide opportunity for mothers to Provide opportunity for mothers to network and become integrated into network and become integrated into society.society.

Strong focus on prevention.Strong focus on prevention.

Specific Example: GermanySpecific Example: Germany

Social-Educational Family Services: Social-Educational Family Services: An intensive “wrap-around” model An intensive “wrap-around” model for families who do not have access for families who do not have access to traditional social work services.to traditional social work services.

Wrap-around is a comprehensive, Wrap-around is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary team approach.interdisciplinary team approach.

Specific Example: EnglandSpecific Example: England

Save the Children Centers: Family-Save the Children Centers: Family-centered programs similar to German Self-centered programs similar to German Self-Help. Help.

Assistance for mothers with practical Assistance for mothers with practical problems of daily living and child rearing, problems of daily living and child rearing, as well as day care.as well as day care.

Vital role in creating networks and re-Vital role in creating networks and re-integration into society.integration into society.

Specific Example: EnglandSpecific Example: England

John Grooms: Charity that provides John Grooms: Charity that provides services for people with disabilities. services for people with disabilities.

Emphasizes “mainstreaming” into Emphasizes “mainstreaming” into normal society and work.normal society and work.

Specific Examples: FranceSpecific Examples: France

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

Specific Example: FranceSpecific Example: France

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