Meike Wittfeld

Dr. Meike Wittfeld serves as interim professor of Organization of Social Work at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, working within the School and Youth Welfare Working Group from office S06 S04 B28 at Universitätstraße 2, 45141 Essen.

Her educational background includes a BA in Social Pedagogy from Hoogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (2004-2008), an MA in Social Work from the University of Duisburg-Essen (2008-2010), and a doctorate from the University of Wuppertal in 2022 with the thesis "Risky Proximity. Challenges of Educational Professionals in Residential Care Against the Background of Addressing Sexual Violence in Institutions."

Dr. Wittfeld's research centers on child and youth welfare with specialized focus on violence prevention in educational settings, particularly sexual violence in institutions. Her work examines the complex dynamics between youth welfare services and schools, exploring how these systems can improve cooperation to protect children. She investigates institutional risk constellations related to violence, boundary management challenges, and professional ethics in residential care settings, applying qualitative research methodologies to uncover nuanced realities faced by educational professionals.

Her publications reveal consistent thematic focus on institutional risk management, professional boundaries, and child protection mechanisms across educational contexts. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in analyzing how professionals navigate ethical dilemmas while maintaining appropriate boundaries in child welfare contexts.

Among her professional engagements, Dr. Wittfeld coordinated the "Young Science Social Work" network mailing list until 2018 and remains active in the research network "Institutional borderline situations and constellations of coercion and violence in inpatient care settings" (IGGH). She participated in the local organizing committee of the DGfE Congress 2018.

Dr. Wittfeld teaches courses including "Institutions and Organization of Social Work," "Heterogeneity in pedagogical fields of action: Child protection in pedagogical institutions," and "Diversity in Organizations" at both bachelor's and master's levels. She also leads thesis colloquia where students develop research questions, methodology, and writing processes related to social work topics.