As of: March 26, 2024, 2:30 p.m
By: Tanja Brinkmann
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Stand up for the KJE: (from left) Ronald Kühn, Stephan Heinle, Dr.
Kathrin Klaffl and Andreas Wieland.
© Thomas Sehr
After 34 years it's over.
Ronald Kühn, managing director of child, youth and adult welfare, will retire in August.
But first he trains his successor: Dr.
Kathrin Klaffl moved from Caritas in Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
– The generational change in child, youth and adult welfare (KJE) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is progressing smoothly.
Ronald Kühn, executive director, is retiring this summer after 34 years at KJE.
His successor, Dr.
Kathrin Klaffl has already started her duties.
“Very useful,” says the 42-year-old business graduate and social worker, who was previously responsible for participation and inclusion in the Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising as manager.
During this time, she initiated and accompanied the transformation process for 23 institutions and services, which resulted from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Federal Participation Act.
In addition, she was able to establish, among other things, two new inclusive housing options for people with disabilities and a new special education day care center for school-age children in the business area.
KJE corresponds to a medium-sized company
This alone shows that the woman from Wolfratshausen is predestined for the tasks in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Over 50 applications were received at Dompfaffstrasse.
“It was interesting that at least 20 percent of them had no idea about the social sector,” says Stephan Heinle, chairman of the association’s council.
They had no idea how complex the area of responsibility awaited them at the KJE.
A construct that generates 14 million euros in sales per year.
Which employs 255 people and looks after 518 people with disabilities.
“This now corresponds to a medium-sized company,” emphasizes Andreas Wieland, deputy chairman of the association’s council.
However, one that requires tact and a lot of social skills.
In addition to the bankers and other economic experts, there were “other very good applicants,” says Heinle.
“We are very proud of that.” The decision for Klaffl was unanimous – “given her extensive experience in theory and practice, it was easy.”
It was also easy for the mother of one of her daughters to decide to move from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for work.
“A lot of good things have happened here in the last few decades,” she says.
Heinle immediately chimes in: “The fact that we are doing so well is mainly thanks to Ronald Kühn.” Of course, he downplays the praise.
“I'm glad that we can manage the transition together.” By the time he leaves, he wants to introduce Klaffl to all areas, from the Werdenfels workshops to the integration kindergarten, special education day care centers and an after-school care center to open help and three residential buildings for people with disabilities are sufficient.
The deciding factor is always the individual
And the next new building is already coming up.
The house on the Kanker, where refugees have been living for another year, has to give way to accommodate people in outpatient residential groups.
“It’s also about self-determination and participation in the town center,” says Heinle.
From his point of view, this is “a sensible addition to our offering”.
According to Wieland, 330 square meters of living space is possible on the site.
Planning for the realization is already underway and the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place next year.
Klaffl also sees a need when it comes to autism.
“The diagnoses are increasing, so we need solutions for the children and appropriate care options.” Those affected are difficult to integrate into groups “since they cannot enter into relationships at all, are very withdrawn and sensitive to noise, but are also very loud themselves “.
In order to solve this, discussions are underway with the municipality of Murnau.
“There are rooms for a group with six places connected to the after-school care center and the day care center,” explains Kühn.
It remains exciting, that is clear to him as well as to his successor and the representatives of the club council.
And there will be enough to do in the future.
The environment in which they are involved requires special attention, not a standardized one, emphasizes Heinle.
“You have to see the individual very strongly.”