Guidance and Nurturing for Family Members
Last Thursday, a significant gathering took place at the youth welfare office in Landshut. The meeting, organised by caseworkers from the city and the youth welfare office, marked the beginning of regular networking aimed at improving offers, strengthening networks, and developing targeted assistance for families with disabled children.
The focus of the meeting was to pay more attention to the needs of these families, who often face high psychological stress and require significant time for care and support, as revealed by a 2022 study by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Carolin Völkner, the city's disability commissioner, was present at the meeting, along with specialists from the Supplementary Independent Participation Counseling (EUTB) of the Bavarian Red Cross (OBA BRK). Organisations like Lebenshilfe Landshut, AWO Eltern-Kind-Zentrum in Potsdam, the Bundesverband behinderter und chronisch kranker Eltern (bbe), and the Selbstvertretung junger Menschen mit Beeinträchtigung were also actively involved.
The goal of the meeting was to bridge the gap between youth welfare and integration assistance. The participants agreed that close cooperation and networking are essential to achieving this goal and to improve services, strengthen networks, and develop tailored assistance for families with disabled children.
The meeting was planned as a kick-off for regular networking, and further meetings are already in the planning stages. The counseling centers, which can provide relief by guiding those affected through the complex support system and assisting with the application for services, were also in attendance.
The utilization of synergies in cooperation was a key aspect of the meeting, with all parties agreeing that working together will be crucial in addressing the challenges faced by families with disabled children and improving their quality of life.
