Selected aspects of the substitute care system in Germany

• Authors: Nowakowska, Ewa

Abstracts

EN

The media usually promote a negative image of the German „Jugendamt”. Meanwhile, the Youth Welfare Office (Socialgesetzbuch VIII Kinder- und Jugendhilfe) based on the bill SGB VII, has been established directly to help the families s affected by problems. Basically, this help is limited to supporting parents and caretakers in providing the welfare and education for the children. However, in the most drastic cases, the help system is expected to locate a minor in a foster environment. Federal Statistical Offi ce registers a systematic growth in the number of minors that are in various forms of care outside the family. In 2016, the number included 174 800 persons (in 50% of cases the withdrawal of parental rights was dictated by the parents’ incapability of coping with parental issues). The German institutional model of foster care designed for minors living abroad is characterized by introducing minors to care homes (Standprojekt), encouraging them to participate in yacht cruises (Schiffprojekte) or so-called travel projects (Reiseprojekten). In accordance with the German regulations, the children of foreigners under 18 are considered minors, thus if they travel without adult supervision, they are deemed unaccompanied minors and are consequently put under the care of the Youth Welfare Office.

Keywords

EN

Germany; Jugendamt; minors; substitute care

• Publisher: Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej. Wydawnictwo APS
• Journal: Problemy Opiekuńczo-Wychowawcze
• Year: 2018
• Volume: 571(6)
• Pages: 20-27

Dates

published

2018-08-21

Contributors

author

Nowakowska, Ewa

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0012.2881