Child protection in the crisis: maximum violence against children!

Child protection in the crisis: maximum violence against children!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, child protection services in cities such as Landau and Speyer experience a worrying overload. According to SWR , the cases of sexual, physical and mental violence against children are constantly increasing. Kyra Pachner from the Kinderschutzbund "Blauer Elefant" in Landau reports that a freeze of admission had to be imposed since December because the capacities are almost exhausted.

The child protection service in Landau receives between five and ten new inquiries weekly, but can only accept acute emergencies. In SPEYER, on the other hand, there is no absorption stop. However, Marlen Bauer, the head of the Caritas Center, expects a further increase in cases in the near future. This increase is caused by an increasing number of domestic violence and behavioral children in daycare centers and schools.

Family stress and personal bottlenecks

The increasing burdens of families in Rhineland-Palatinate contribute to the falling tolerance of frustration, which has a negative impact on the well-being of the children. A threatening future is emerging, because in the areas of child protection, advice centers, schools and daycare centers there is an acute lack of staff. The Child Protection Association has actively promoted its offers in the past, which led to an increase in inquiries from young people. Nevertheless, the existing staff is not sufficient to do justice to this.

Pachner urgently demands more financial resources from the federal government to cope with the current challenges in the social sector. The city of Landau confirms that the topics of youth and social affairs are the largest positions in the household, but also sees itself in a tense budget situation. The hope is that the admission stop in the Child Protection Association in Landau will end in February 2024 in order to ensure permanent care for affected children again.

increasing demand for advisory services

In the context of the Corona crisis, the auxiliary and advisory services for children and adolescents are under intensive pressure. As the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, the pandemy led to an increase in the question of advisory services. The parents' phone "Number against Kummer" recorded an increase of 21 percent of calls and chat advice for children and adolescents even by 26 percent.