Bernburg. "We are now at a point where we are continuing to promote cooperation with all parties involved in order to achieve inclusive child and youth welfare services and maintain our broad network." This is what Josephin Warthmann, the responsible specialist service manager, says after more than a year of experience working as a procedural guide at the youth welfare office as an additional service offered by the Salzlandkreis district. Based on the Child and Youth Empowerment Act passed in 2021, legislators plan to transfer responsibility for all children, adolescents and young adults to local youth welfare offices, regardless of their type of disability.
However, until the youth welfare offices can be responsible for all children and young people and the individual support services for them, the legislator has not yet overcome all the hurdles. Up to now, the responsibilities for children and young people with disabilities have been divided between the social welfare office (in the case of integration assistance for physical and mental disabilities) and the youth welfare office (in the case of mental disabilities). Also in the Salzland district.
Nevertheless, the inclusive youth welfare approach to the reform of child and youth welfare has long been a concern for the district administration. "Since last year, we have had another, additional service offering in the form of a procedural guide," recalls the head of the specialist service responsible. The current procedure pilot in her specialist youth and family service is available as a contact person for young people, their mothers and fathers or legal guardians who want to claim benefits due to an existing or impending disability.
"This is an important intermediate step towards inclusive youth welfare services," says Josephin Warthmann and believes that the district administration is now at the right interface with the other important areas that are involved in various ways in the development of inclusive child and youth welfare services. "We have set the course and are working together to make progress." The aim is to enable all children and young people to participate on an equal footing and lead a self-determined life, regardless of their individual circumstances such as disability, ethnicity or social status.
The Salzland district offers guidance and support during this process. The social counsellor advises and supports those seeking help in the application process. What guidance and support services are available for young people with an impending or established disability? Who is responsible, is it the youth welfare office, the social welfare office or job centre, the Federal Employment Agency, accident, health or pension insurance? The procedure guide has the answers and advice.
The network's tasks also include providing information about integration assistance services, other assistance and counselling services, finding contacts and providing support and assistance throughout the rehabilitation process.
People up to the age of 27 with disabilities or impending disabilities, their parents, legal guardians, foster parents, people with appropriate parental authority and/or legal carers can contact them. The counselling service is free of charge and is not a prerequisite for receiving integration assistance benefits. The counselling service is only provided at the request of the beneficiaries. A counsellor works independently and confidentially. The basis for this is the Child and Youth Empowerment Act.
You can reach Victoria Becker, a procedural counsellor at the Salzlandkreis Youth and Family Department at Bernburger Straße 13 in Staßfurt, in person, by telephone or by e-mail:
She also offers appointments at other locations of the district administration, at co-operating facilities and home visits by appointment.