Child protection in Wermelskirchen: better awareness!

Child protection in Wermelskirchen: better awareness!

In Wermelskirchen, 16 employees from urban day -care centers and two specialist advisors took part in comprehensive further training as "child protection specialist". The Merakita educational workshop carried out this training from January to October 2024. The initiative was enabled by state funds from the State Child Protection Act and is part of the Network Child Protection Wermelskirchen. Christine Daun, the deputy head of the youth welfare office, as well as Sylvia Schultz and Janina Gellermann, the specialist consultant for day care and an employee of the network, were significantly involved in the implementation.

The central goal of this further training is to train the specialists in it, to better recognize signs of child welfare. This not only includes abuse, but also neglect that often occurs in society. Specialists receive training courses to raise awareness and deepening their specialist knowledge in the field of child protection. After completing the further training, the participating contacts for parents and colleagues are in the daycare centers. The current developments also indicate that further training is planned in 2025 to train at least two specialists per city daycare center.

legal foundations and tasks

The legal basis for the detection of child welfare is anchored in § 8a of the SGB VIII. Specialists in child and youth welfare are therefore obliged to assess risks and report possible hazards. Messages can be submitted both anonymously and namely at the youth welfare office. The youth welfare office pursues the goal of ensuring the well -being of the child and finding solutions that protect the child and at the same time support the family.

In Wermelskirchen, help is offered by urban advice centers and outpatient support. The specialists who have participated in further training are important for prevention and intervention in cases of child welfare. In addition, the sensitization of society is of crucial importance for these topics, because child protection is a task for society as a whole.

opportunities and further developments

The further training as a specialist in child protection includes basic content, including legal and professional basics, methodological knowledge as well as the development of help and the cooperation of institutions. After successfully completing all four modules, a certificate will be issued. The modules are structured so that they take place for four to five months, which enables flexible participation.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are various funding opportunities, such as the educational check for individuals with certain income limits. Hanna Offenhau is available for organizational questions, while Miriam Urbic can be contacted for technical inquiries. Further information about events and offers can be found on the website of the Campus kjh and on rga.de

The youth welfare office Wermelskirchen is available for support or advice on 02196 - 710 511. Child protection remains a social challenge that can only be successfully mastered by working through everyone involved.