Children are our future!
Children are our future - responsibility for their mental and physical development, and ensuring that they are protected against neglect and abuse, are the basic tasks of their parents and of society. Nevertheless, there are parents who find it difficult to cope alone with the challenges they are faced with following the birth of a child and when bringing up their children. There is a lack of a family or neighbourhood support network that can help and support them in dealing with simple everyday problems. They need other forms of help and support - before the problems escalate into a crisis. It is important that this offer of help and support is readily available, that it is within easy reach and is focused on the individual needs of those involved.From the "Wir können handeln" ("We can act") brochure of the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband (a charity organisation) and of the Deutscher Kinderschutzbund (German child protection agency).
For this reason, in Ammerland we have strengthened the number of specialist staff from various disciplines that work together with expectant mothers, young parents and babies. To bring together the different professions, the "Frühe Hilfen im Ammerland" (Early support in Ammerland) network was founded a year ago; for the first time in Ammerland there is now a pregnancy advisory service including counselling for unwanted pregnancies. Together with the local health authority, family midwives offer support to families throughout the baby's first year of life; and the newly established family service offices in all the municipalities and the local district of Ammerland serve as a first point of contact for families with very diverse concerns. Our equality office and the coordination office for senior citizens with its close-knit network are helpful in answering many questions."
Head of Social Services Ingo Rabe