Erziehungshilfe; Beantragung von Hilfen zur Erziehung

If an upbringing that is in the best interests of a child or young person cannot be guaranteed, educational assistance can be provided.

Parental support is the generic term for various forms of assistance in the event that the legal guardians need support in raising their child.

The local youth welfare office advises on the appropriate and necessary measures; a plan for the assistance is drawn up jointly.

In particular, the following measures may be considered:

Educational counseling

In contrast to many other child and youth welfare services, no prior application to the youth welfare office is required to make use of educational counseling. Parenting and youth counseling centers make a significant contribution to strengthening parental parenting skills. Multidisciplinary specialist teams support children, young people, parents and other guardians in clarifying and overcoming individual and/or family-related problems and the underlying factors. From birth to adulthood, differentiated developmental support and counseling services are offered for all life situations and problems.

The work of the educational counseling centers is of great importance in the area of separation and divorce, among others. This applies in particular to highly contentious conflicts, which require close cooperation between the youth welfare office, parenting and youth counseling center and family court.

In addition, parents can visit the website of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e.V. - Elternberatung and young people can visit the website of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e.V. - Jugendberatung for guidance and support from the Virtual Counseling Center of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung, which is funded by the federal states.

Social group work

Social group work is designed to help older children and young people overcome developmental difficulties and behavioral problems through social learning in a group.

Educational counselor, care assistant

The educational advisor/care assistant is intended to provide minors with advice and help in overcoming developmental problems and to promote their independence while maintaining a relationship with their family.

Socio-educational family support

Socio-educational family assistance supports families by providing intensive care and support with their parenting tasks, coping with everyday problems and resolving conflicts and crises, as well as dealing with authorities and institutions. Socio-educational family support offers help for self-help.

Education in a day group

In a day group, the development of a child or young person is promoted through social learning in the group, support with schooling and work with parents. The aim is to ensure that the child remains in the family by providing support with schooling and parental work.

Full-time care

If parents are unable to provide their child with adequate upbringing conditions, placing their child in another family for a certain period of time or permanently can be a suitable form of help.

Residential care, other forms of assisted living

Homes for minors offer differentiated forms of care for children and young people who are placed outside their own family. The basic aim is to return the young person to their family of origin or to prepare them for an independent life. Parental work is important here and is therefore a conceptual component.

As a legal guardian, you have a legal entitlement to educational assistance if

• without this help, an upbringing that is in the best interests of your child cannot be guaranteed and
• the help is suitable and necessary for the development of your child.

The costs of educational assistance are always borne by the youth welfare office.

In some cases (e.g. residential care), those affected can also contribute to the costs downstream. The Youth Welfare Office checks whether and to what extent parents can contribute to the costs. The assessment takes into account the ability of those liable to contribute to the costs.

The Youth Welfare Office provides educational assistance upon application by the person with custody, provided that the assistance is suitable and necessary.

• As the legal guardian, you must submit an informal application for educational assistance to the youth welfare office if you have the impression that you need support in dealing with your child. Young adults submit their application independently.
• The staff at your local youth welfare office will work with you to decide what help is suitable for your family.
• If you need support over a longer period of time, the staff at the youth welfare office will draw up a support plan together with all those involved. This plan regulates the joint approach and is regularly adapted and updated depending on the development of the child or young person.
• The support services are provided by public and independent youth welfare organizations. These can be local authorities, associations or clubs, for example.

You can also make use of educational counseling without being referred by the youth welfare office.

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