Our main focus is prevention research, resilience as well as organizational and quality development in educational institutions (kindergarten, school)

Expertise

promotion of resilience
promotion of mental health
competence based teaching in early childhood education degree programs
cooperation with parents in early childhood education institutions
violence prevention
designing formal and informal educational processes

Concept

The Centre for Childhood and Adolescence Research (ZfKJ) provides research, praxis counselling and further education in the following areas:

Early Childhood Education
Youth Welfare
Psychotherapy with children and adolescents.

The general objectives of the ZfKJ are

to promote health and a healthy environment for children, adolescents and adults
to develop praxis in the field of psychosocial work in order to improve children’s and adolescents’ participation in social life

Thus, the ZfKJ works according to the following principles:

resource orientation
promotion of empowerment
focus on prevention
consideration of cultural diversity and gender imbalances
praxis research through direct involvement of clients.

Our special concern is to link research, praxis as well as teaching and education. Therefore, the ZfKJ systematically practices the transfer of research results into praxis through publications, symposia and further education.

Research Activities

The ZfKJ does basic and applied research in multi-perspective, multimodal designs, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

The spectrum of ZfKJ research activities also covers

project evaluation
needs assessment
network analysis
research in education & communication.

Current Projects

Pilot project: “STRONG – Supportive tools for resilient, open-minded and non-violent grass-root work at schools” (Feb 2011 – Jan 2013; funded by European Commission within Daphne III programme).

Comparative European study: „Implementation and evaluation of quality criteria for the professional support of violent children and young people” (Jan 2009 – Dec 2010; funded by European Commission within Daphne III programme).

Programme evaluation: “Prevention of social exclusion – promotion of mental health in early childhood education institutions in deprived areas” (Sept 2008 – Sept 2010; funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research).

Further Activities

development of prevention and intervention programmes in the areas of early childhood education and youth welfare (e.g. resilience promotion courses, anti-violence-training)
consulting for early childhood education and youth welfare institutions
initiating innovation processes in early childhood education
development of competence based teaching in early childhood education degree programs
providing further education programs in the areas of early childhood education and youth welfare (e.g. professional support for violent young people)

Publications (exemplary)

Fröhlich-Gildhoff, K. & Rönnau-Böse, M. (2009). Resilienz. München: Reinhardt.

Fröhlich-Gildhoff, K., Wigger, A., Lecaplain, P., Svensson,O. & Stelmaszuk, Z.W. (2008). Professional support for violent young people. Results of a comparative European study. Freiburg: FEL.

Fröhlich-Gildhoff, K. & Nentwig-Gesemann, I. (Hrsg.) (2009). Forschung in der Frühpädagogik II. Freiburg: FEL.

Kraus-Gruner, G., Rönnau, M., Fröhlich-Gildhoff, K. & Füssinger, E. (2008). Violence Prevention in the Educational Institution „Kindergarten“ – Pre-study. Present approaches and Development Possibilities. Freiburg: FEL.

Rönnau-Böse, M. & Fröhlich-Gildhoff, K. (2009). The Promotion of Resilience: A Person-Centered Perspective of Prevention in Early- Childhood Institutions. In: Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies. Journal of the World Association of Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling.

2011-09-29 / 2011-09-29