Department 51 - District Youth Office

Our Tasks

The district youth office provides or arranges assistance according to the Child and Youth Welfare Act (SGB VIII).

The range of tasks includes "early assistance," organizing quality child care, providing parenting counseling and support, and promoting offerings for young people.

In all services, consultations, and benefits, the child's well-being is always the focus.

Early Assistance
For a good start to family life, the district youth office informs families about support and counseling services for parents and children, starting from pregnancy and during the early years.
 
Youth Care, Youth Promotion, Educational Child and Youth Protection
Promotion of open child and youth work as well as youth association work. Children and young people are empowered to recognize and avoid risks. Strengthening parents to protect adolescents from harmful influences.
 
Social Space Coordination
Networking relevant actors and their collaboration in municipalities and social spaces to provide tailored and efficient support to children and their families.
 
Coordination of Child Protection
Based on the Federal and State Child Protection Act NRW, the district youth office coordinates, supplements, and strengthens child protection procedures and advocates interdisciplinary cooperation and prevention.
 
Youth Welfare Planning
Develops measures and programs in the area of parenting assistance. Coordinates youth welfare in the Oberberg district and collaborates with various actors to analyze needs and develop new solutions.
 
Advance Maintenance Payments
Provision of advance maintenance payments to single parents
 
General Social Service (ASD)

• Mediation in family conflict situations
• Advice on parenting issues, parenting problems, and family law conflicts
• Information and mediation of parenting assistance
• Participation in family court proceedings
• Child protection

Youth Welfare in Criminal Proceedings (JuHiS)
The youth office acts as a mediator between the youth court and young people.
 
Guardianship Authority
Preparation of social reports in guardianship proceedings (legal representation for adults), advice and support for guardians, certification of advance directives, management of guardianship matters in the Oberberg district.
 
Der Baumhof - Counseling Center for Parents, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Supports parents, children, adolescents, and young adults in clarifying and coping with personal and family-related problems.
 
Outpatient Family Assistance
The Outpatient Family Assistance (AFH) works directly in the living environment of children, adolescents, young adults, and their parents (outreach work). With a systemic orientation, participants are supported in achieving their goals.
 
Foster Care Service

• Placement and care of children and adolescents in foster families
• Qualification of foster parents

 
Adoption Mediation
Preparation, advice, and support for and during adoptions.
 
Legal Guardianships
Management of legal and court-appointed guardianships for minors 
 
Support Services

• Clarification of paternity issues
• Calculation and enforcement of maintenance claims for minors
• Advice for young adults on maintenance issues

 
Day Care for Children

• Expansion of needs-based care offerings in child day care, day care centers (KiTa), and open all-day primary schools (OGS)
• Financial support for providers
• Training of educational professionals
• Advice and support for providers, staff, and parents on kindergarten matters

 
Procedure Guide
Advice and accompaniment for young people with (threatened) disabilities aged 0 to 27 years and their families regarding possible entitlement to benefits

Our Goals for You

• Empowering children, ensuring they can develop their abilities and talents, and grow up healthy
• Supporting young people to confidently and independently find their own path
• Accompanying and advising families to help make family life successful
• Creating a family-friendly environment
   

Our Services in Numbers

The District Youth Office of the Oberberg District performs the tasks of the public youth welfare provider for a total of approximately 170,000 residents in nine towns and municipalities. These are the municipalities of Bergneustadt, Engelskirchen, Hückeswagen, Lindlar, Marienheide, Morsbach, Nümbrecht, Reichshof, and Waldbröl. 

The Baumhof - Counseling Center for Parents, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, the Guardianship Authority, and the Adoption Agency are also available to all towns and municipalities in the Oberberg District.