Youth social work supports individually impaired and socially disadvantaged young people between the ages of 12 and 27 with low-threshold programs. Youth social workers approach the young people in places where the young people linger, such as on streets and public places. Or they can reach them with attractive sports, music, media and educational projects in their free time or outside their classrooms at school. Youth social work provides both: social learning in groups – whatever goes with participation – and mandatory individual case management.
Close to the mark
All youth social work programmes address the needs of young people and improve their living situation and support their school learning. The youth social work also looks after young people who cannot be reached by other social institutions. It thus promotes cohesion in society and counteracts negative developments and exclusion. Youth social work makes a significant contribution to realising the goal of the Senate Department of Education: “Education for All”.
Networked
Community work and social space orientation, cooperation with schools, youth welfare offices, other youth welfare programmes as well as psychosocial care services characterise youth social work. Opportunities to participate in society are opened up for the young people in order to help them shape their immediate living environment, to volunteer and to resolve conflicts with neighbourhoods.
