Regina Rätz

Prof. Dr. Regina Rätz is Professor of Social Work with a focus on child and youth welfare at Alice-Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, a position she has held since 2004. Her academic profile encompasses extensive research, teaching, and publication activities in child protection, social pedagogy, and children's participation in decision-making processes. She contributes significantly to both theoretical development and practical implementation in social work through her scholarly work and professional engagement.

Prof. Rätz earned her Dr. phil. in Sociology and holds a Diplom as a Social Worker/Social Educator. Her doctoral scholarship from the Evangelical Study Foundation Villigst e.V. (2002-2004) supported her research on biographical reconstructions of young people's life stories in challenging circumstances. Prior to her professorship, she gained practical experience working with youth and families at Sozialdiakonische Jugendarbeit Lichtenberg e.V. Berlin.

Her research interests center on child and youth welfare, with particular emphasis on child protection systems, children's participation in child protection processes, biographical research methods, dialogical approaches in social work, and the impact of societal transformations on children and families. She critically examines power dynamics between adults and children, advocating for approaches that respect children's rights and perspectives while addressing complex social challenges.

Prof. Rätz's recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a consistent focus on contemporary issues in child protection, including pandemic impacts on families receiving social services, theoretical frameworks for understanding childhood within power structures, and practical approaches to implementing children's participation. Her work consistently bridges theoretical insights with practical applications, employing qualitative and biographical research methods to develop deeper understandings of social work interventions.

• Promotionsstipendiatin des Evangelischen Studienwerkes Villigst e.V. (2002-2004)
• Co-editor of the series "Studienmodule Soziale Arbeit" in Beltz Juventa Verlag since 2007
• Editorial board member of Sozial Extra journal (2001-2022)
• Reviewer for German Council of Science and Humanities (2019-2020)
• Reviewer for Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2017)

Prof. Rätz has supervised numerous students and developed significant academic programs, including scientific leadership of the continuing education master's program "Dialogical Quality Development in Early Help and Child Protection" (MA Kinderschutz) since 2015, and previously led the consecutive master's program "Practice Research in Social Work and Education" (2011-2020). She has also taught at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland.

She leads the "Qualitätsentwicklung in Wissenschaft und Praxis" (QE-WiPrax) network, which focuses on quality development in science and practice, particularly in early help and child protection. Her work consistently emphasizes the integration of research, practice, and education to improve outcomes for children and families, with a strong commitment to children's rights and perspectives in social work practice.