New Paradigms in German Health Promotion – (New) Challenges for Social Work

there is a new law (German Prevention Act) since summer 2015, asking for (new) challenges
for social work. THEORETICAL BASE: This so-called “law to empower health promotion
and prevention” encourages actors in this field to collaborate and forces the health insurances to
put more than 500 million euros per year into a national health fund. The national prevention
committee described recommendations on how to invest the money, and defined core areas (for
example childcare services, schools, communities and care facilities) and core topics (for example
the reduction of health inequalities). METHODS: Theoretical discussion and reflection on the
current opportunities and the challenge for social work in health promotion and prevention.
OUTCOME and SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: Lifeworld orientation in social work is
derived as a theoretical framework to reduce health inequalities. Therefore, we focus on “health in
everyday life” and discuss to what extend environmental limitations shape health-related agency
– people’s real options for action to decide either for or against an action. From a professional
perspective it is inevitable to mandate for social work clients and their living environments, to
include their agency in all considerations and to consequently address social disadvantaged target
groups.