Recent failures in listening to and helping citizens in a vulnerable position (think of the child benefits scandal) have shown the complexity as well as necessity for governmental agencies to develop more responsive and reflexive social policies and services. This especially goes for regulatory agencies (e.g., the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate or the Justice and Security Inspectorate) that are responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of public services. To enable such a reflexive turn, citizen-users should become the touchstone of regulatory policies. The aim of the RUN-study is to develop reflexive regulatory arrangements, using narrative methods, putting service users center stage and enhancing accountability and dialogue.
The RUN-consortium consists of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the University of Groningen and Radboud University. Each university focuses on a specific target group: Radboud University focuses on children with mental disorders and behavioral problems and their parents/caregivers. University of Groningen focuses on low educated people who are unemployed. Erasmus University focuses on people with dementia and their caregivers. The RUN-consortium collaborates with a wide range of societal and public organizations, such as inspectorates and interest groups, such as Alzheimer Nederland, Zorgbelang Inclusief, MIND and Stichting Lezen en Schrijven.