From Welfare State to Welfare Society

Summary

Within the area of health and social welfare the Danish state has recently made a new approach to prevention and problem-solving. The goal was to promote innovation and social inventions on a local and citizen-oriented level through public funds. In this paper we will focus on a special program called “Social Development Program” (SUM), running from 1988 until the end of 1991. The program can be seen as a new trend in Danish welfare policy turning from an almost solely welfare state policy to a welfare society policy involving municipalities, voluntary organizations, and the users themselves. Another trend is the emergence of a voluntary initiative started on a citizen basis-self-help groups. They have had great impact on the way of viewing the preventive capacity and the helping ability among lay people.