| Heikki
Waris Institute The Heikki Waris Institute and Socca, the Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area joined forces at the beginning of 2009. Socca was adopted as the name of the newly-consolidated unit. Heikki Waris Institute is a unit of development, research and education of urban social work. Participants to the activities of the Institute include the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Helsinki, the polytechnics in the field, the social work units in the metropolitan area and the third sector. Tasks and Operational Methods of the Heikki Waris InstituteThe objective of the Institute is• to develop and study the approaches and methods of urban social work • to promote the interconnection between research, development and education relating to social work methods • to build and maintain a community of research, development and education within the professional practices • to promote a flexible approach to work that takes advantage of networks and crosses sector borders • to develop the structures of knowledge production and the exertion of social effectiveness, and • to participate in international cooperation in questions of urban social work. The Institute comprises job descriptions and procedures that cross borders of traditional research, development and education. The personnel of the Institute consists of temporary researcher and developer social workers. Also students and teachers of the university work at the Institute. To a significant extent the development work is carried out as projects. The Institute promotes knowledge construction that arises from practice and develops various forms of cooperation between research and practice. For practitioners, researchers and teachers the Institute or-ganises forums, such as thematic morning coffee meetings, discussions and Studia Generalia lectures. Social innovations are born from interaction and new networks. Cooperation NetworkThe cities of Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa also participate in the activities of the Institute. The Institute has a cooperation agreement with the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Helsinki, which supports the structures of education and research in practical social work both at the Uni-versity and in the Institute. Other participants to the activities of the Institute include the Helsinki Poly-technic Metropolia and the Kalliola Settlement. The third sector is an important cooperative body in deve-loping the activities and strengthening the practical approach.Heikki Waris Institute acts in cooperation with Mathilda Wrede Clinic, which is the Swedish-speaking educational and research clinic of the City of Helsinki Social Services Department and part of the Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare for the Swedish-speaking population in Finland. AdministrationThe Heikki Waris Institute is a part of Socca. It still has an advisory group which consists of members of University and cities of the metropolitan area.Materials in English Aulikki Kananoja, Social Director (emerita) Helsinki :The
Dialogue of Social Work and Practice and Research The Heikki Waris
Institute as a model of Collaboration, August 2009 Aulikki Kananoja, Social Director (emerita) Helsinki: Contact information Director Pirjo Marjamäki tel. +358 40 334 6401 pirjo.marjamaki(at)hel.fi Tel +358 9 310 61722 socca@hel.fi www.socca.fi Postal Address: P.O. Box 7409 00099 City of Helsinki Finland Street Address: Käenkuja 3 aB -1st floor 00500 Helsinki Finland |
