On August 12, the Federal Cabinet the draft of a First Act on the Structural Reform of Child and Youth Welfare Services to strengthen and modernize these services. With this, the Federal Government is beginning the implementation of a comprehensive, two-stage structural reform. The goal is to make child and youth welfare services fit for the future.
Support services should reach families more quickly and effectively, municipal structures should be strengthened, and unnecessary bureaucracy reduced. At the same time, the long-term goal is to curb rising costs for municipalities. The federal government is responding to current challenges in child and youth welfare and changing circumstances. The need for support among children, young people, and parents has increased significantly in recent years. At the same time, municipalities are under considerable financial pressure. In many places, there is a shortage of qualified staff, and complex responsibilities across different service systems hinder access to support.
Further developing child and youth welfare
The draft legislation is the first stage of the structural reform. A second stage will involve further measures, particularly to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of child and youth welfare services, as well as their planning, financing, and management. The reform also makes an important contribution to the further development of child and youth welfare services towards an inclusive system, as agreed upon in the coalition agreement of the 21st legislative period.
The most important contents of the first stage of the structural reform:
- Offering low-threshold educational assistance in daycare centers and schools
- Simplify administrative procedures and reduce bureaucracy
- Strengthening municipal infrastructure
- Supporting young people on their path to an independent life
- Use skilled workers more effectively and ease the burden on staffing
- Abolish so-called "accompanied drinking"
Source: Draft law on structural reform of child and youth welfare adopted – BMBFSFJ, 12.08.2026
