They don't sit in the office, but are mostly out and about on the street to help with problems: street workers who are often referred to as the “social fire brigade”.
The district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen relies on this special form of support in youth work - with success.
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- Everyone is responsible for their own life. But this is not always easy, especially for adolescents. This is where the mobile youth social work comes in, which sees itself as a contact person and supporter. The district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen spends 100,000 euros every year on this compulsory task - money well spent, as the activity report of the two street workers Ilona Demmel (focus: Murnau) and Sigrid Stacklies (focus: Garmisch-Partenkirchen) showed. The two specialists who are employed by the Weilheimer association “Brücke Oberland”, which specializes in youth and family aid, came to the meeting of the youth welfare committee in Ohlstadt to report on their work in the hall of the Gasthof zur Post. One thing is certain: this is varied and important, but anything but easy.
County finances two positions
Since 2013 there has been a part-time position in Murnau and a full one in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since 2019.
But that does not mean that the two street workers limit themselves to the two main locations.
Rather, you travel across the district - and are very flexible at the same time.
"We orient ourselves towards our clients," emphasizes Stacklies.
What is special: you and your colleague see yourself as guests in the world of adolescents and young adults, seek them out at their meeting points and maintain contacts.
Not an easy task, because in order to get hold of the 12 to 27 year olds, a basis of trust must first be established.
The assurance that confidentiality applies and that problems will be treated confidentially if requested is crucial.
The focus is on young, often socially disadvantaged people who hardly use the classic offers such as the youth centers.
“They do their thing.
They are difficult to reach, ”reports Demmel.
They often get together with their cliques in public places such as playgrounds or parks, which can lead to trouble.
Local residents keep complaining if, for example, it has become too loud again or the remains of a party are lying around the next day.
The Murnau Bay is such a focal point, especially in the summer months - or the new Burg-rainer playground.
Diverse problems of youth
The difficulties that young people have are manifold: It starts with addiction problems and ends with a lack of an apprenticeship.
In these cases, the social workers want to help and mediate in an unbureaucratic way, for example to counseling and specialist centers.
In social education one speaks of low-threshold offers.
Leisure projects are another mainstay.
The list of activities is long, from cooking and dancing together to excursions and graffiti workshops.
There is one thing that is particularly dear to Demmel and Stacklies' hearts, which could be heard from their lecture: In their opinion, there is a lack of “places where young people can still be young people” in the district of Treffs.
Simple places to stay, possibly even made from wooden pallets, would be enough, so the tenor.
The district politicians are satisfied with what has been achieved so far: "This work is very beneficial," said Vice District Administrator Dr.
Michael Rapp (CSU).
In his experience, the need has increased.
And Veronika Jones (Greens) also spoke of an "incredibly valuable work".