Welfare societies are confronted with a new social quest: the problem of increasing numbers of
people having difficulties in coping with daily complexity and the dramatic increase in users
in youth care mental health and the punitive system. The answer to this new social issue is
not a Caring State but an Activating State. The new social quest asks for a new concept of
citizenship on the one hand and a new social professional as 'generalist-specialist' or
professional friend on the other hand. From there different modern approaches in social work
are presented such as outreach social work new avenues for reducing recidivism making room
for vulnerable people in the community interethnic connecting in sports good social care and
a new profile for social workers.
