Regional Mental Health Professionals for Children and Adolescents (ReFaps)

Flexible and neighborhood-oriented specialists for mental health issues in Bremen and Bremerhaven

The "Regional Specialists for the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents" (ReFaps) provide low-threshold support to families and professionals in Bremen and Bremerhaven to strengthen the mental health literacy of children and adolescents. To promote the mental health of children and adolescents and to be able to respond to emotional distress, preventive services are implemented within the education, child and youth welfare/social services, and health systems.

Offers, measures and events

• Groundbreaking advice via email, telephone or in regular on-site consultations for professionals and families
• Information events, workshops, discussion groups and parents' cafés

The topics covered in the programs are very diverse and tailored to the needs of the respective target groups. Examples include mindfulness, self-care, mental health, managing emotions, media consumption, information about various conditions such as trauma, autism, anxiety, and depression, and strengthening the parent-child relationship. These events are implemented on-site in institutions such as daycare centers, youth welfare facilities, and schools.

working method

• The ReFaps work in pairs in the different regions (North, East, South and West) of Bremen as well as in Bremerhaven, thus representing neighborhood-oriented and flexible contact persons for all matters relating to mental health.
• The tandems consist of a health science or social work professional and a psychotherapist. This enables both professional therapeutic access and low-threshold, outreach-based access to professionals and families seeking help.

Cooperation partners:

• The ReFaps are a collaboration between LVG & AFS and the Bremen-East Clinic (Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics).
• Other important local partners include professionals and institutions from the fields of education, social services and health (e.g. schools, daycare centers, neighborhood centers or offices, family centers, counselling centers, neighborhood management, ReBUZ, leisure activities, midwifery and health centers).
• Furthermore, there is close cooperation with the “health professionals in the neighborhood” and the “health professionals at schools”.

Financial support

• Bremen Health Department
• Bremerhaven Public Health Department