Prof. Dr. Daniel Niebauer

Institution

Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Function

  • Member of the faculty council Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Internship Commissioner Studiengänge
  • Faculty Academic Advisor Studiengänge

Room

N 2.04

Degree Programs

Social Work (B.A.)Research-based Practice Development in Social Work (M.A.)

Phone

+498215586-3671

E-Mail

daniel.niebauer(at)tha.de

Office Hours

by appointment

  • Since September 2021: Professor of “Theoretical Foundations of Social Work” at Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg                                        
  • 2020–2021: Adjunct Professor of Education at the Faculty of Social Work at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
  • 2016–2020: Research Assistant at the Faculty of Social Work at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
  • 2014–2021: Teaching assignments and instructional roles at various universities and colleges (including the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Landshut University of Applied Sciences, and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences)
  • 2013–2017: Ph.D. (Dr. phil.) at the Chair of Social Pedagogy in the Faculty of Philosophy and Education at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
  • 2007–2013: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in “Social Work” at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
  • Since 2016: Training sessions for the “gesund.sein” group program at homeless shelters
  • 2018–2020: Staff position for social space development/social space coordination at the Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising e.V.
  • 2014–2016: Social worker in homeless services at the Catholic Men’s Welfare Association of Munich e. V.
  • 2007–2016: Personal assistant to people with physical disabilities
  • 2006–2007: Community service and nursing assistant at the Pfennigparade Foundation

bachelor program:

  • History and Theoretical Foundations of Social Work
  • Theories of Social Work
  • Social Work with People in Special Life Situations and Life Stages (Focus: Emergency Housing Assistance)
  • Social Work and Health
  • Reflection on Practice
  • Bachelor’s Seminar

master program:

  • Research-based Practice Development in Social Work
  • Professionalization and Professional Development in Social Work
  • Social Work with People in Special Life Situations (Focus: Assistance for the Homeless and Those in Housing Emergencies)
  • Social Work and Health / (Low-Threshold) Clinical Social Work
  • Client- and User-Orientation (From “Hard-to-Reach” to “How-to-Reach”)
  • Psychoeducation in the Social Work Context
  • Relationship Building in Social Work
  • Research-Based Practice Development, Practice and Evaluation Research

Ongoing Research Projects

Completed Research Projects

  • Teaching-based research on “Physical Activity and Sports as a Medium of Social Work in Emergency Housing Assistance” (2023–2024)
  • NuGeWo Study: “Benefits and Use of the ‘gesund.sein’ Group Program in the Context of Homeless Assistance” (2022–2024, externally funded project supported by the Bavarian Homeless Assistance Foundation, Role: Project Leader)
  • Evaluation of the regulatory housing of homeless people in a selected major city (2023, Role: Project Leader, jointly with Prof. Dr. Janine Linßer)
  • Social space analysis of a Munich neighborhood (2018–2019, joint research project with the Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising e.V., Role: Project Director)
  • Teaching-research project on the topic “Relationship-building from the Perspective of Social Workers” (2017–2019, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Klug and Georg Mirus)
  • Evaluation of the project “Impact-Oriented Management in Youth Welfare” at a selected youth welfare office (2017–2018, role: deputy project manager)
  • Formative evaluation study of the “gesund.sein” group program (2013–2017, independent dissertation project)

Monographs

Publications

  • Pohl, J., Klug, W., & Niebauer, D. (2025). Relationship-Building in Social Work: Insights into Theory, Practice, and Research. Baden-Baden: Nomos

Articles in Professional Journals and Anthologies

  • Niebauer, D. & Linßer, J. (2026). Fragile Housing = Fragile Professionalism?! Social Work in the Regulated Housing of Homeless People—Findings from an Empirical Study. In F. Sowa, M. Geiser-Krummenacher, T. Neu, P. Runge, N. Sellner, A.X. Tissot, & A. Tsirikiotis (Eds.), Fragile Housing. Precarious Housing and Homelessness in Times of Multiple Crises (pp. 726–743). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa
  • Niebauer, D., & Möckl, P. (2026). Benefits and Use of the “gesund.sein” Group Program in Emergency Housing Assistance Facilities. In F. Sowa, M. Geiser-Krummenacher, T. Neu, P. Runge, N. Sellner, A.X. Tissot, & A. Tsirikiotis (Eds.), Fragile Dwellings: Precarious Housing and Homelessness in Times of Multiple Crises (pp. 479–501). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa
  • Niebauer, D. (2025). Physical Activity and Sports in Emergency Housing Assistance. In M. Matzner & T. Wojciechowski (Eds.), Handbook of Physical Activity and Sports in Social Work (pp. 443–457). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa
  • Pohl, J., Niebauer, D., & Klug, W. (2025). Relationship-Building in Social Work—An Outline of a Basic Professional-Theoretical Understanding. In J. Pohl, W. Klug, & D. Niebauer (Eds.), Relationship-Building in Social Work: Insights into Theory, Practice, and Research (pp. 57–69). Baden-Baden: Nomos
  • Niebauer, D. (2024). “Because it just doesn’t feel ‘human’…”—On the Necessity of a “How-to-Reach” Perspective for Relationship-Building in Social Work. Probation Assistance, 71(1), 5–16
  • Niebauer, D. (2023). Psychoeducation in Emergency Housing Assistance. The “gesund.sein” Group Program for Promoting the Mental Health of Homeless People. In H. Daßler (Ed.), Homeless and Mentally Ill (pp. 204–219). Cologne: Psychiatrie Verlag
  • Niebauer, D. (2023). Support in Housing. In A. van Rießen & C. Bleck (Eds.), Fields of Action and Approaches in Social Work (pp. 522–531). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer
  • Jahreiß, S., & Niebauer, D. (2022). Professionalization of Staff in Child and Youth Services. On the Importance of Interprofessionalism Among Social Workers. Blätter der Wohlfahrtspflege, 169(6), 203–205
  • Niebauer, D., Klug, W., & Wolf, M. (2020). How Can the Implementation of Innovations Succeed? Findings from an Evaluation Study at a Youth Welfare Office on “Impact-Oriented Management” in Child and Youth Welfare. Unsere Jugend, 72(10), 424–432
  • Klug, W., Niebauer, D., Mirus, G., Dittelbach, B., & Huber, F. (2020). Relationship-Building from the Perspective of Social Workers. An Empirical Approach. Social Work, 69(9/10), 378–385
  • Niebauer, D. (2019). Shaping social space development together—findings from a social space analysis of the Ludwigsfeld neighborhood in Munich. de, 11(1); available at: https://www.sozialraum.de/sozialraumentwicklung-gemeinsam-gestalten-%E2%80%93-erkenntnisse-einer-sozialraumanalyse-des-muenchner-stadtviertels-ludwigsfeld.php
  • Niebauer, D. (2019). The Importance of Psychoeducation for Promoting the Mental Health of Homeless People. In R. Jordan (Ed.), “… Without a Home, Nothing Is Possible!” (pp. 181–189). Berlin: BAG W-Verlag
  • Niebauer, D. (2017). “Hard-to-reach”—a matter of perspective. Partnerschaftlich (General Association of Addiction Services e.V. – Information Service), 15(3), 12–13.
  • Niebauer, D., & Reifferscheid, G. (2017). Mental Health and Homelessness. In S. Gillich & R. Keicher (Eds.), Homeless in Germany: Poverty, Migration, and Homelessness (pp. 325–335). Freiburg im Breisgau: Lambertus
  • Niebauer, D. (2017). Methods of Social Work—A Contemporary Definition in the Context of So-Called “Hard-to-Reach” Target Groups. Probation Services, 64(3), 213–222
  • Klug, W., & Niebauer, D. (2016). Social Work Practice with Sex Offenders in the Context of Probation Services. Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 23(3), 336–359
  • Niebauer, D. (2016). Psychoeducation in Homeless Services. gesund.sein—An Innovative Group Program for Homeless Men. In J. Bäuml, B. Behrendt, P. Henningsen, & G. Pitschel-Walz (Eds.), Handbook of Psychoeducation for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatic Medicine (pp. 432–436). Stuttgart: Schattauer
  • Niebauer, D. (2015). From “hard-to-reach” to “how-to-reach.” Successful participation of homeless people in practice and research. Theory and Practice of Social Work (TuP), 66(6), 412–421
  • Niebauer, D., & Klug, W. (2014). Research-Based Practice in Social Work: The Example of Homeless Assistance. In E. Mührel & B. Birgmeier (Eds.), Perspectives on Social Pedagogical Research (pp. 315–330). Wiesbaden: Springer VS
  • Niebauer, D. (2011). Psychoeducation in Homeless Assistance. gesund.sein—A Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless Men. Homeless, 53(4), 138–142

Reviews

  • Niebauer, D. (2016). Review dated December 9, 2016, of: Robert Lucas Sanatanas. Portraits of Life on the Street. Herder (Freiburg, Basel, Vienna) 2016. ISBN 978-3-451-31327-1 (available at: http://www.socialnet.de/rezensionen/21374.php)
  • "Benefits and Use of the 'gesund.sein' Group Program in Emergency Housing Assistance Facilities—Findings from the NuGeWo Study on Professional Relationship-Building in a Group Setting" (Presentation as part of the session “Encounters with People in Vulnerable Life Situations” at the International Conference on Clinical Social Work, Olten, Switzerland), June 11, 2026
  • "Building Relationships That Promote Participation and Trust in the Context of Homeless Assistance" (Presentation as part of the panel "Loneliness as a Risk Factor for Social Participation and Commitment to Democracy" at the DGSA Annual Conference, Mönchengladbach), April 25, 2026
  • Moderation (with Corinna Höckesfeld) of the session “Peers Between Teaching and Learning” at the conference “Achieving More Together: Expanding Participation—Shaping Spaces—Overcoming Homelessness,” Augsburg, March 18, 2026
  • “Benefits and Use of the ‘gesund.sein’ Group Program in Emergency Housing Assistance Facilities—Results of the NuGeWo Study” (poster presentation at the Poverty and Health Congress, Berlin), March 16, 2026
  • "Promoting the Mental Health of Homeless People: The 'gesund.sein' Group Program" (presentation in the session "Transdiagnostic Psychoeducation as a Basic Intervention in Various Settings" at the DGPPN Congress, Berlin), November 26, 2025
  • "Implementing Peer Approaches in Emergency Housing Assistance—A Workshop Discussion" (workshop with Corinna Höckesfeld at the open network meeting "Housing Instead of Shelter," Augsburg), September 18, 2025
  • “gesund.sein: A Group Program to Promote Mental Health” (Presentation at the “Homeless Self-Advocacy Association Meeting,” Herzogsägmühle), July 24, 2025
  • “gesund.sein: A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless People” (Presentation at the symposium “Health Promotion for Homeless People,” Munich), September 26, 2024
  • “Homeless and Mentally Ill—Insights from Science and Practice” (Presentation at the Caritas Association for the City and District of Augsburg, Augsburg), July 26, 2024
  • “Homeless and Mentally Ill—Fundamental Perspectives from a Scientific Perspective” (Opening presentation at the symposium “No Roof, Much Harm—People with Mental Health Challenges in Emergency Housing Assistance,” Augsburg), June 10, 2024
  • Participation in the closing panel discussion of the symposium “No Roof, Much Harm—People with Mental Health Challenges in Emergency Housing Assistance,” Augsburg, June 10, 2024
  • “gesund.sein—A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless People” (program presentation as part of the World Café at the Freiburg StraßenSchule symposium “Young, Homeless, and Mentally Ill—Where Do We Start? Opportunities and Challenges of New Approaches to Assistance,” Freiburg), May 7, 2024
  • “Fragile Housing = Fragile Professionalism?! Social Work in the Administrative Housing of Homeless People—Findings from an Empirical Study” (Presentation with Janine Linßer at the conference “Fragile Housing—Precarious Living and Homelessness in Times of Multiple Crises,” Nuremberg), February 24, 2024
  • “Practical Guide: Promoting the Mental Health of Homeless People. The ‘gesund.sein’ Group Program” (book presentation at the conference “Fragile Housing – Precarious Living Conditions and Homelessness in Times of Multiple Crises,” Nuremberg), February 24, 2024
  • “Use and Implementation of the ‘gesund.sein’ Group Program in Emergency Housing Assistance Facilities—Results of the NuGeWo Study” (presentation with Philipp Möckl at the conference “Fragile Dwellings—Precarious Housing and Homelessness in Times of Multiple Crises,” Nuremberg), February 23, 2024
  • “Theory-Practice Transfer in the Study of Social Work—Between Knowledge Transfer, Application Orientation, and Emotional Involvement” (presentation at Teaching Day at Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg), November 9, 2023
  • “Nothing Works Without Relationship-Building …—Empirical Insights into the Theory-Practice Relationship in a Core Topic of Social Work” (Keynote presentation at the Field Instructor Day during the 2023–24 winter semester at Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg), September 28, 2023
  • “Theory-Practice Transfer—Cooperative Process Design as a Model for Scientifically Grounded Practice (and Reflection)” (Keynote presentation at the Field Instructor Day during the 2022/23 winter semester at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences), September 29, 2022
  • “Insights into Social Work – Social Work: What Is It, Actually? (Presentation) and “gesund.sein—A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless People” (poster presentation), as part of the Long Night of Science in Augsburg, July 16, 2022
  • “Relationship Building from the Perspective of Social Work Professionals – An Empirical Examination” (presentation as part of the Social Work lecture series during the summer semester 2022 at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences), April 26, 2022
  • “What Do Social Work Theories Contribute to the Profession?” (Keynote presentation at the Field Instructor Day during the 2021–22 winter semester at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences), October 1, 2021
  • “gesund.sein – A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless Men” (presentation as part of the “Science Slam” at the DVSG National Congress “Recognizing Disadvantages – Utilizing Scope for Action,” Kassel), November 14, 2019
  • “Presentation of the ‘gesund.sein’ group program” (presentation at the symposium on “gesund.sein” organized by the homeless services of the Oldenburg and Osnabrück regional offices of the ZBS Lower Saxony, Osnabrück), October 1, 2018
  • “From ‘hard-to-reach’ to ‘how-to-reach’—Innovation Potential in Methodological Approaches Using the Example of Homeless Assistance” (presentation at the conference “Social Innovation—Experiences, Controversies, Perspectives” at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland), February 2, 2018
  • “gesund.sein—A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless Men” (theme table/poster presentation at the national conference of the Federal Working Group for Homeless Assistance e. V., Berlin), November 17, 2017
  • “The Importance of Psychoeducation for the Mental Health of Homeless Women and Men” (presentation at the national conference of the Federal Working Group for Homeless Assistance (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe e. V.), Berlin), November 16, 2017
  • “gesund.sein – A Group Program to Promote the Mental Health of Homeless Men” (workshop at the congress of the Evangelical Federal Association for Livelihood Security and Participation e. V. (EBET)—Emergency Housing and Assistance for Offenders, Erfurt), September 27, 2016

Memberships

  • German Society for Social Work (DGSA)
  • German Association for Social Work in Healthcare (DVSG)
  • Association of University Professors (hlb)

Expert Activities

  • Social Work (DZI)
  • Contributions to various anthologies
  • Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)