In disputes and conflicts: They help children, young people and parents

Created: 01/25/2022, 05:30

By: Doris Richter

Since this year there has been a new contact point in the Munich district office: the ombudsman for children, young people and families.

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Since this year there has been a new contact point in the Munich district office: the ombudsman for children, young people and families.

District

– The F. family is urgently looking for a school companion for their ten-year-old son.

But her application is rejected.

Hilde A., who is single, has been in contact with the youth welfare office for a long time because of educational support.

In the end, she got completely different help than she actually wanted.

She fears her arguments have not been taken into account.

For both cases, there has been a new contact point in the district office since this year: the ombudsman for children, young people and families.

Since the beginning of December you can get Katrin Steinacher or Claudia Berger on the phone if you call them.

For example, because you are not satisfied with a decision and do not know whether you can do anything about it.

Or because you had a dispute with a clerk, you think you have been treated unfairly.

Katrin Steinacher studied social work and business psychology and has a lot of experience in child and youth welfare.

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A very complex system for laypeople

In which facility will my child be placed?

Can my child be deprived of pocket money in the residential group?

Or what can I do if I am dissatisfied with a decision made by the youth welfare office?

For example, many do not even know that they have a right to inspect files.

Or that every notification contains a reference to "Legal Appeal Instructions" and that you can lodge an objection.

Voluntarily and free of charge

“We also step in when communication is lost and people no longer trust them.” Sometimes simple explanations are enough.

For example, that the child came to the facility that is further away just because there was no space available in the other facility that is closer.

The ombudsman's service is voluntary and free of charge.

"If desired, we can also accompany people to appointments or have a power of attorney issued, for example to request access to files," says Katrin Steinacher.

Claudia Berger studied social pedagogy and completed systemic coaching training.

Before that she worked in youth welfare.

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The idea for the ombudsman came up in 2018 in the Bavarian State Youth Welfare Office and received fresh impetus from the new Children and Youth Strengthening Act of June 2021.

The model project started on October 1, 2021 with a full-time position limited to the end of 2023. The district of Munich is one of three funded model locations.

Experience is gained and in the end it is decided how to proceed.

The new position is still relatively unknown.

Nevertheless, a handful of people have already reported since the beginning of the year.

The offer is to be made even better known via independent providers, the employees in the youth welfare office and the school social workers.

A digital open day is planned for spring.

The ombudsman

The new ombudsman for children, young people and families is located at Mariahilfplatz 17, 81541 Munich.

Katrin Steinacher or Claudia Berger can be reached on 089/62 21 28 74 or by e-mail to ombudschaft@

lra-m.bayern.de.

More information at www.landkreis-muenchen.de/ombudschaft