Guidance and Aid for Family Members
In a bid to improve offers, strengthen networking, and tailor assistance for families with children with disabilities, the first networking meeting for counseling centers took place at the district youth office in Landshut. The meeting, initiated by the city's process mentors and the district youth office, was planned as a kick-off for regular networking among these counseling centers.
All participants, including specialists from the Supplementary Independent Participation Counseling of the Bavarian Red Cross's Open Disability Work and Lebenshilfe Landshut, agreed on the necessity of close cooperation and coordination among counseling centers. The focus of the cooperation is to address the needs of these families, a concern that has been highlighted by a 2022 study published by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The study revealed that parents of children with disabilities experience high psychological stress.
The aim of the meetings is to bridge the gap between youth welfare and integration assistance, and to utilise synergies in cooperation among these counseling centers. Counseling centers can provide relief by guiding affected individuals through the complex support system and assisting with service applications. The care and support of children with disabilities require a significant amount of time, and these meetings aim to streamline the process.
Carolin Völkner, the city's disability commissioner, was present at the meeting. Further meetings among the counseling centers are already in the planning stages, though no further details were given about the frequency or format of the planned regular networking meetings.
The meeting did not provide information about any specific decisions or actions taken. However, it is clear that this is just the beginning of a collaborative effort to support families with children with disabilities in Landshut and beyond.
Other organizations, such as the Elbkinder, which focus on therapeutic concepts and support for children with disabilities, were not mentioned as participating in the network meetings. However, their work in similar areas serves as a testament to the broader community's commitment to supporting families in need.
As the networking meetings continue, it is hoped that they will lead to improved offers, strengthened networking, and tailored assistance for families with children with disabilities, providing them with the support they need to navigate the complexities of youth welfare and integration assistance.
