Emergency shelter for children in Bützow: Help in a crisis!

Emergency shelter for children in Bützow: Help in a crisis!

In the Rostock district, the situation for children who have to be removed from their previous environment is alarming. The number of people being taken into care is increasing rapidly, which makes it necessary to set up a new emergency shelter for children up to ten years old. The maximum length of stay in such facilities is usually limited to a few days to weeks before a further decision can be made. How NDR reported that five independent providers have applied to set up the emergency accommodation in this context. The operating contract was ultimately awarded by lottery, as two providers were tied in the technical evaluation.

The background to the people being taken into care is often worrying. For example, children are placed outside their family if there is a suspicion that there is a risk to the child's well-being, such as abuse or neglect. In frightening cases, the child is taken into care in the delivery room immediately after birth. The responsible youth welfare offices are facing increasing challenges because there are often insufficient accommodation options and the situation is noticeably worsening. “The dramatic increase in people being taken into care requires quick action,” said a spokesman for the youth welfare office.

Details about the new emergency shelter

The emergency shelter in Bützow will be operated by the “International Federation” until January 2026. The decision to choose the operator through a lottery was met with mixed reactions. While a narrow majority in the Youth Welfare Committee voted for this method, there were critical voices who supported a technically based decision. However, the local constitution allows such lottery procedures, which prompted the committee to take this step.

The legal basis for taking someone into care is set out in Section 42 of SGB VIII. This stipulates that children and young people must be taken into care quickly if they are in danger. In the event of acute danger, the youth welfare office becomes active and can take measures without the consent of the parents. It is essential that the family court is called in immediately to check the legality of the measures.

Challenges and outlook

The challenges when taking someone into care are diverse. Loud Law Forum Taking children into care can also be the case if parents are overwhelmed or are in a crisis situation, for example due to addiction problems. The situation of unaccompanied minors also plays a role, especially in view of increasing numbers due to international crises. The Child and youth welfare emphasizes that in many cases the youth welfare office is obliged to recognize threats to children's well-being and to act accordingly.

The creation of the new emergency shelter in Bützow is an important step in meeting the challenges in the Rostock district. It is now all the more important to closely monitor future developments and ensure that the measures for taking people into care are sustainably improved. This is the only way to provide the children and young people affected with the urgently needed support and to protect their rights.