Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Karin Prien (CDU), plans a comprehensive overhaul of child and youth welfare. A draft proposal from her ministry, which “Politico” reported on in its Monday issue, outlines the changes.
To ensure that child and youth services can continue to perform their mission effectively, the draft calls for a complete reform of their structure. Instead of relying mainly on individual support, the legislation favours universal packages. “The individual legal right to guidance and support in childcare facilities, schools or universities under the umbrella of childcare aid or integration assistance will now be met through an infrastructural educational‑assistance offering” the document states.
The draft also proposes transferring services from the Ninth Book of the Social Code (SGB IX) to the Eighth Book (SGB VIII), thereby consolidating all child‑ and youth‑welfare services under one roof. This consolidation aims to eliminate jurisdictional conflicts that currently arise when authorities must distinguish between the nature of a disability and the reasons for needed support-a distinction that is often impractical in practice.
According to the ministry, the reform is expected to deliver savings in the billions, benefiting the federal states and local governments the most. However, major savings will appear only later, as many measures only come into effect once the new structures are implemented nationwide. The draft estimates savings of €200.6 million in 2028, rising to €2.7 billion per year by 2036.
