Local network for child protection and early help in the Salzland district

The conference at the Salzland Centre in Staßfurt was dedicated to this topic:

"New everyday life in the time of coronavirus" What
impact is the pandemic having on the living environment of children and young people?

The network conference was attended by 160 professionals from the healthcare sector, youth welfare services, day-care centres, schools, social counselling centres, medical professionals and family midwives.

In his introductory remarks, the patron of the local network, District Administrator Markus Bauer, emphasised the importance of active and effective child protection for families and society.

Prof Dr Jörg Fischer, Director of the Institute for Municipal Planning and Development, gave the introductory lecture on the topic of "Early help networks and child protection under coronavirus - what can we learn from overcoming the pandemic?". He began by explaining what is actually behind the networks. The speaker then presented a research study from Thuringia on the changes following the pandemic, from which conclusions could then be drawn for professionals and managers.

The guests were then divided into five themed tables, which they could visit in two rounds. After a brief input from the speakers, the focus was on professional dialogue between the guests. In keeping with the topic, the presence of two speakers was cancelled at short notice, but they were able to join the network conference digitally.

1. Topic table: "Effects of the coronavirus pandemic – what children in daycare need right
now" Speaker: Anne Kuhnert (digital), InDiPaed – Institute for Digital Education in conjunction with Dörte Winkelmann, specialist advisor for daycare facilities in the Salzlandkreis district

2. Topic table: "School: Catching up after coronavirus
" Speaker: Detlef Fickermann, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine "Die Deutsche Schule"

3. Topic table: "The COVID-19 pandemic as a challenge for child and adolescent psychiatry/psychotherapy: epidemiological, developmental psychological and therapeutic considerations"
Speaker: Dr Wolfgang Pilz, child and adolescent psychotherapist

4. Topic table: "How does the coronavirus crisis influence the unequal power relations between adults and children within family structures? An introduction to adultism.
Speaker: Sam Tsemeu (digital), educational director of a children's centre

5. Topic table: "Domestic violence in families – changes during the COVID-19 pandemic" Speaker
: Kerstin Janke, specialist in forensic medicine

The conference at the Salzland Centre in Staßfurt was dedicated to this topic:

"Children of today – parents of tomorrow" Recognising and supporting developmental
trends

A total of 210 professionals from the healthcare sector, youth welfare services, day care centres, schools, social counselling centres, doctors, psychologists, midwives and family midwives took part and listened to interesting presentations by the three speakers.

Dr Martin R. Textor, Director of the Institute for Education and Future Research in Würzburg, gave the participants an outlook on the future of family and childhood in the next 20 - 30 years and outlined the challenges this will pose for psychosocial and medical services.

The presentation by qualified social education worker Nicole Wache gave the professionals practical tips on how to organise and conduct parent-teacher conferences in difficult situations, highlighting both the role of the professional and the situation of the parents.

Stephan Cinkl, a qualified psychologist and family therapist, focussed on the participation of children and young people in resolving family conflict situations and presented possible forms of participation in youth welfare services based on the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Between the presentations, the participants took the opportunity to exchange ideas and information with colleagues at the five themed tables.

On 25 November 2015, 200 members of the "Local Network for Child Protection and Early Intervention in the Salzlandkreis District" gathered at the Salzlandcenter in Staßfurt for their 5th network conference.

In his introductory remarks, the patron of the local network, District Administrator Markus Bauer, emphasised the importance of active and effective child protection for families and society. The network's task is to work together and support families with appropriate measures.

After five years of networking, Christel Wenzel, Head of Youth and Family Services, looked back on the development of the network and the work accomplished during this time. She summarised the achievements in the individual "pillars" of the network and thanked all those involved for their joint efforts.

Mr Marcel Christoph from the Early Intervention Centre of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt presented the development of early intervention in Saxony-Anhalt and gave a brief outlook on the continuation of the federal initiative.

Christiane Knopp's specialist lecture addressed a topic that is relevant to many families today: "Stress in the family – a risk factor for child welfare?" The head of the training centre at the EINE CHANCE FÜR KINDER foundation used practical examples to explain the causes, effects and approaches for cooperation between those involved in early intervention.

The "Significance of Parent-Child Bonding from a Developmental Psychology Perspective" was the topic of the specialist lecture given by Senior Physician Joachim Perlberg, Medical Director of the SALUS Day Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy in Wittenberg. He discussed the fundamentals of attachment theory, attachment types and attachment disorders, explained diagnostic options and presented the clinical and everyday effects and therapeutic options. The topic was explored in greater depth in an afternoon workshop.

In the afternoon, conference participants had the opportunity to attend one of five workshops presenting the services and working methods of the various professions in the network and providing recommendations for daily work.

On the occasion of the 4th network conference of the "Local Network for Child Protection and Early Help" in the Salzland district on 26 November 2014, 235 network stakeholders met at the Salzlandcenter Staßfurt for their annual conference, which was held under the theme:

"Children with mental health problems and children of mentally ill parents"

stand.

After the introductory words of the new patron of the local network, District Administrator Markus Bauer, the presentations in the morning opened up different perspectives on the topic to the experts from the various professions in the network:

In her presentation, Dr Edeltraud Dögel, Head Physician at Clinic II of SALUS gGmbH, discussed the importance of child and adolescent psychiatric care in the Local Network for Child Protection and Early Help in the Salzland district from a medical perspective.

The presentation "Please think of me too" by Ms Ines Andre-Lägel, a qualified psychologist, provided a very practical illustration of the enormous stress children of mentally ill parents are exposed to and what needs they have.

Dr Ines Groffik-Hain, a doctor in the children's and young people's medical service of the Salzland district, presented the possibilities of the public health service to support children of mentally ill parents and mentally ill children.

In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to explore the topics in greater depth in special workshops.

At the end of the day, the participants agreed that this year's conference had provided many new approaches for their own work and was an all-round successful event.

Around 170 stakeholders from various professions came together at the Kurhaus in Bernburg on 27 November 2013 for the 3rd network conference of the "Local Network for Child Protection and Early Help in the Salzland District".

In his welcoming speech, the patron of the network, District Administrator Ulrich Gerstner, praised the importance of the network and the dedicated work of its partners. The presentations given
by the speakers provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their specialist knowledge. The discussions during the breaks helped to establish and deepen contacts among the participants.
In the panel discussion, joint action in implementing the duty to protect children at risk was examined from different perspectives.
Those present agreed that the 3rd network conference was another successful event. Thanks are due to all those involved.

ON 28 NOVEMBER 2012, APPROX. 120 REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL PROFESSIONS OF THE "LOCAL NETWORK FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN THE SALZLAND DISTRICT" MET IN ASCHERSLEBEN FOR THEIR 2ND NETWORK CONFERENCE, WHICH THIS YEAR FOCUSSED ON "EARLY HELP".

In his welcoming speech, the patron of the local network, District Administrator Ulrich Gerstner, praised the dedicated work of those involved from all areas, without whom a functioning network would not be possible. The keynote speech was given by Prof. Dr. Karin Böllert from the University of Münster and dealt with the topic of "Child protection through networking and cooperation". In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to expand their knowledge and engage in discussion with each other in seven workshops and working groups.

Around 150 representatives of all professions from the "Local Child Protection Network in the Salzland District" met at the 1st network conference at the Salzlandsparkasse bank in Staßfurt.

The main contents were:

• A specialist lecture on the topic: Neglect, maltreatment and sexual abuse of children – differentiation between everyday injuries and violence inflicted by third parties; Speaker: Prof. Dr. med. Rüdiger Lessig, Director of the Institute of Legal Medicine at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
• A practical report from a childcare facility on the topic: Implementation of Section 8a of Book VIII of the Social Code (SGB VIII) at the Storchennest childcare facility in Wedlitz; Speaker: Eileen Schmidt, Head of the Storchennest childcare facility in Wedlitz
• The event was accompanied throughout the day by presentation stands from the network partners.

On 11 August 2010, the kick-off event for the establishment of the "Local Child Protection Network in the Salzlandkreis" took place in Bernburg.

After the welcoming address by District Administrator Ulrich Gerstner as patron, the event was enriched by an expert introduction by Ms Christiane Meiner - research assistant at Friedrich Schiller University Jena on the topic of "Promoting children's health - safeguarding children's welfare".

123 interested participants from various independent and municipal youth welfare organisations, different professions, schools and local authorities listened to the presentation by the former head of the youth welfare office of the Salzland district, Ms Christel Wenzel, on the implementation of the Child Protection Act in the Salzland district and the presentation of experiences from the practice of the family midwife, Ms Ines Schäfer.

The willingness of the various professions to participate in the establishment of a local network in the Salzland district and to contribute their knowledge from the most diverse areas of responsibility for child protection, which was signalled by their participation in the kick-off event, represents a very good starting position, as the realisation of the local network can only succeed together with as many stakeholders as possible.