Children and young people; taken into care by the youth welfare office

The youth welfare office is entitled and obliged to take a child or young person into its care. This is particularly the case if the child or young person requests it or if there is an urgent risk to the child's welfare that requires it to be taken into care and the legal guardians do not object or a family court decision cannot be obtained in time.

While the child is being taken into care, the youth welfare office has far-reaching powers to act directly, in particular it is entitled to take all legal actions that are necessary for the welfare of the child or young person (e.g. arranging necessary medical examinations). Taking a child into care is also associated with the authority to temporarily place them with a suitable person, facility or other (suitable) form of accommodation (e.g. child protection centers, standby foster homes, etc.).

If the custodial parents or legal guardians object to being taken into care, the youth welfare office must immediately obtain a decision from the family court on the necessary measures for the welfare of the child or young person if, in its opinion, the welfare of the child is at risk and the custodial parents or legal guardians are not willing or able to avert the risk.

Foreign children and young people who come to Germany unaccompanied are also taken into care by the youth welfare office. As part of the temporary custody, the Youth Welfare Office checks whether there are any reasons why the young person should not be transferred to another federal state.

Information on child endangerment

If you have the impression that a child is being mistreated or sexually abused, please contact the General Social Service of the Youth Welfare Office. You can also seek advice anonymously or send an anonymous report to the General Social Service. The Youth Welfare Office is not obliged to make a report. You can help to protect children.

Child abuse, violence against children

We speak of abuse when physical or psychological violence or neglect of children and young people leads to damage to their health and impaired development.

Visible signs can be Bruises, welts, bruises, scalds, burns, emaciation or neglect. Screams, crying or fighting back are audible.

Violent acts towards children are often triggered by adults being overwhelmed, for example due to family stress, lack of money, illness or unemployment. In order to protect children, parents, relatives, friends, neighbors and professionals (e.g. kindergarten, school) must be attentive and take responsibility.

It is the task of the staff of the General Social Service to follow up on every worrying report that indicates a risk to the child's welfare. It must be clarified with the family concerned whether a counseling service or support for the family through outpatient help is sufficient to enable the parents to assume their responsibility and create a beneficial living situation for the child.

If this is not possible, it may be necessary to remove children from the stressful situation in order to protect them. Even in such situations, it is the task of the youth welfare office to activate parents and strengthen them to such an extent that it is possible for the children to return to the family.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is when a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult or an older child/adolescent. This includes, among other things, when a person

• touches or allows themselves to be touched by a child for their own sexual arousal.
• forcing or persuading a child to be naked or to watch sexual acts.
• forces or persuades a child to have oral, anal or vaginal intercourse.

Sexual abuse can begin well below the threshold of the above examples! Children and young people are often not in a position to report sexual abuse directly. They feel guilty, ashamed and/or are forced by the perpetrator to maintain secrecy. For mothers and fathers, the suspicion that their own child may have been the victim of sexual abuse is an extreme burden - especially if the perpetrator is a family member or friend.

The General Social Service of the Youth Welfare Office has a specialist service for sexual violence and child sexual abuse. Here you will be advised by specially trained professionals. Contact the Youth Welfare Office if you have a "bad" feeling, if you have questions, if you observe things that make you unsure and suspicious.

The Youth Welfare Office is not obliged to make a report! We can also advise you anonymously.

The Youth Welfare Office is entitled and obliged to take a child or young person into its care if

• the child or young person requests custody or
• there is an urgent risk to the welfare of the child or young person that requires the child or young person to be taken into care and
  • the legal guardians do not object or
  • a family court decision cannot be obtained in time or
• a foreign child or young person arrives in Germany unaccompanied and neither the legal guardians nor the legal guardians are present in Germany.

When taking a young person into care, the youth welfare office works together with the young person and their legal guardians to clarify how the situation came about and provides them with options for help and support. The youth welfare office mediates in conflicts and - if necessary and helpful - initiates further help. The aim is to achieve the most stable and secure placement possible for the young person, for example in a foster family, in a youth welfare facility or in a supervised shared flat.

Rights and duties during the period of taking into care

The youth welfare office is entitled to temporarily take all legal steps that are necessary for the welfare of the child or young person. This includes supervision, care, education and determining the place of residence.

• The young person has the right to inform a person they trust while they are being taken into care.
• The employees of the youth welfare office are obliged to inform the person with custody or parental authority immediately and to assess the risk of danger with them.
• Depending on their age and stage of development, children and young people are involved in all decisions relating to taking them into care.

Decision on return to the parents

• If the custodial parents or legal guardians do not agree to the child being taken into care, the youth welfare office must decide whether the child can be handed over to the custodial parents or legal guardians without endangering the child's welfare.
• If this is not the case, the family court must decide what measures are to be taken in the best interests of the child.

End of taking into care

The period of custody ends when the young person is handed over to their legal guardian or legal custodian and a decision is made on the provision of educational support.

The best interests of the child include the overall well-being of a child or young person (= minor) and their healthy development. A child's welfare is at risk if a current or at least imminent danger to the child's development is foreseeable, which, if it continues, is almost certain to cause considerable damage to the child's physical, mental or emotional well-being. The law lists the following criteria for endangering a child's welfare

• the abusive exercise of parental care,
• neglect of the child,
• the behavior of a third party,
• the inability of the parents and
• the prognosis for the future.

If you notice signs of such things in your neighborhood, among your acquaintances or even among your relatives, please seek a direct conversation and let others know that you are worried or that you cannot and will not accept certain actions.

If you have the feeling that a direct approach to the parent or guardian will not lead to an improvement in the child's situation, please contact the youth welfare office of the city or district immediately. Your anonymity will be preserved.

If you have the feeling that there is an immediate danger, contact the police.

Important telephone numbers for youth welfare

On-call service of the General Social Service for crises and emergencies:

Monday from 8:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Thursday from 8:00 to 15:30 and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00

Contact via the office: 09131 / 86-2516

Crises and emergencies outside opening hours:

Erlangen police station: 09131 / 760-0
Nuremberg emergency service for children and young people: 0911 / 23 13 333

The Nuremberg Child and Youth Emergency Service is responsible for taking children and young people into care when the General Social Service is not available.

Advice for youth welfare professionals and people who are in professional contact with children or young people:

Specialist with experience in youth and family counseling at the City Youth Welfare Office: 09131 / 86-2295

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