Help for Young People with (Potential) Disabilities

The role of the procedural guides is to advise young people up to their 27th birthday on matters related to a disability. They support and assist these young people in accessing the benefits to which they are entitled and in exercising their rights. The focus of counseling and support regarding disability and rehabilitation is on integration assistance under Books VIII and IX of the Social Code.

Procedural Guides provide confidential support. They help navigate the often complex system of integration assistance and work to ensure that young people are able to access their benefits. Since January 1, 2024, procedural guides have been required by law (Section 10b(1) of the Eighth Book of the Social Code, SGB VIII). In the city of Erlangen, they are part of the Youth Welfare Office.

This means that procedural guides...

• are guided by the wishes of the young people and their families and help develop tailored support
• provide independent, straightforward, and comprehensive advice
• provide information about rights, entitlements, and available benefits
• assist with the application process, e.g., by helping to fill out or draft forms
• accompany them to appointments and planning meetings upon request and advocate to ensure that their individual needs for participation and support are met
• explain what the decision states and what legal remedies are available if needed

Who can contact the procedural guides?

• All young people up to their 27th birthday who are (potentially) eligible for integration assistance benefits
• their legal guardians and parents,
• their foster parents and all persons holding the appropriate parental authority,
• their legal guardians (for example, in the case of young adults)

The counseling is free, confidential, and can take place (anonymously, if desired) in person, by phone, online, or via email. Sandra Leykauf and Josephine Ruccius are the procedural guides for the City of Erlangen.

What else do process navigators do?

The Child and Youth Empowerment Act (KJSG), which took effect in June 2021, set the course for inclusive child and youth services. The goal of the law is to consolidate integration assistance services for all children and youth with disabilities under the umbrella of child and youth welfare services starting in 2028. This is known as the “inclusive solution” or “one-stop assistance.”

Therefore, the procedural guides also have the task of supporting Erlangen’s youth welfare services in the long-term process of becoming inclusive. To this end, they draw on experiences from counseling sessions with the target group to derive recommendations for inclusive organizational development.

Where else can young people find information about services related to disabilities?

Children, adolescents, and young adults can find further information on services for disabilities and illnesses, youth welfare services, and financial assistance here: KiJu Digital

Children and adolescents affected by depression, as well as their families, can find a wealth of useful information and resources on the following information portal:ich-bin-alles.de

A profile of the procedural guides in Erlangen can be found in the city newspaper: “Rathausplatz 1 – March 2025 issue”

Where can I find the procedural navigators in Erlangen?

The procedural guides are located on the 11th floor of City Hall, in Room 1113A. However, it’s best to contact them in advance by phone or email, as they are often out in the field providing advice and coordinating services.