معرفی
Dr. Severine Thomas is a dedicated researcher and academic at the Institute for Social and Organizational Pedagogy, University of Hildesheim, where she has served since 2012. Her work focuses on critical transitions in child and youth welfare, particularly the Leaving Care process where young people transition from residential care to independent adulthood. She leads numerous significant research projects examining care leaver experiences, rights, and support systems.
Her research interests center on child and youth welfare systems, with particular expertise in Leaving Care transitions, educational support for care leavers, cross-jurisdictional municipal organization of social services, youth participation and children's rights, and participatory research methodologies. She has conducted extensive research on youth welfare in the GDR, contributing valuable historical context to contemporary care systems.
Thomas's recent publications reveal a strong focus on pandemic impacts on youth (JuCo studies), care leaver rights frameworks, transition management from residential care, and innovative support structures like ombudsman services. Her work demonstrates consistent attention to practical application, with numerous studies directly informing policy and practice improvements in youth welfare systems across Germany.
She has secured and managed substantial research funding from multiple sources including the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, and various foundations. Her projects often involve multi-institutional collaborations with research centers, universities, and social service organizations across Germany.
Thomas actively contributes to academic discourse through teaching at both bachelor's and master's levels, supervising research projects, and presenting at national and international conferences. Her work bridges academic research with practical implementation, consistently focusing on improving outcomes for vulnerable youth transitioning to adulthood.