Development of an Integration Concept for the City of Schwäbisch Gmünd

In spring 2008 the local council of the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd decided to promote the integration of residents with migration background and to encourage peaceful cohabitation of all population groups in the city. For this reason the efms was assigned to elaborate a comprehensive integration concept for the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd.

The development of this municipal integration concept was conceived as a participative process and was coordinated by the efms. The constructive and productive devolution of working processes as well as the quality of the final product were guaranteed by: a) longstanding experiences of the efms with scientific analysis of municipal integration processes and experiences in practical consulting of cities in Germany and Europe, and b) active participation of the political boards, actors, relevant civic societal institutions and networks on the spot.

The project consisted of three stages:

• In a first step, the current integration situation has been analysed in detail. An Integration report, elaborated by the efms, documentes systematically both the current integration offerings in the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd and the actual integration status of residents with migration background.
• The Integration concept has been developed in a second step. On the one hand, this led to a structured organisation of integration activities not only for, but also with the active involvement of migrants in Schwäbisch Gmünd that fits the different target groups. On the other hand the concept encourages sustainable networking between municipal and civic societal institutions and actors in the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd.
• In a third step the implementation of an integration monitoring took place. This enables the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd to quantify the success of integration activities, to prove the goal achievements and to optimize its integration activities.

Funding: City of Schwäbisch Gmünd
Duration: May 2008 - May 2009
Researchers: Doris Lüken-Klaßen, Judith Halisch
Publications:
efms: Miteinander in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Grundlagen des städtischen Integrationskonzepts, Bamberg 2008
Halisch, Judith; Lüken-Klaßen, Doris: Integrationsbericht Schwäbisch Gmünd, Bamberg 2008
Stadt Schwäbisch Gmünd (ed.): Miteinander in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Integrationskonzept, Schwäbisch Gmünd 2009