St Portal's school advocates for strong, supportive households and the enhancement of youngsters

In the heart of Wuppertal, the Diakonie Wuppertal - Children - Youth - Family is making a significant difference in the lives of families with difficult backgrounds. Each year, around 160 families benefit from their support, with approximately 45 families receiving intensive care.

The Diakonie's support is multi-faceted, addressing not only the practical aspects of parenting but also the fundamental question of how to build a good bond with the child. This comprehensive approach includes parenting tips on the phone, home visits, assistance with authorities and pediatricians, and two playgroups.

The Diakonie's support can be very concrete, helping new parents register their child after birth, find a pediatrician, ensure proper nutrition, and create a child-safe apartment. The team, consisting of psychologists, social pedagogues, family children's nurses, and family midwives, works closely with the youth welfare office to determine what support is desired and makes sense for each family.

A unique feature of the Diakonie's service is the "Flex plus" (flexible educational plus health support), which includes a family midwife or family children's nurse in home visits. This service aims to strengthen parents and provide practical help in daily life to ensure children grow up healthy and well.

The Diakonie ensures a trusting interaction with parents, avoiding pressure. Social pedagogue Julia Rau explains that families are regularly visited at home for discussions about what's going well or currently challenging. Psychologist Beate Lampenscherf supports parents from pregnancy through their child's third year of life with this multidisciplinary team.

Contact with families is sought in the maternity ward of the Bethesda Hospital. Many parents who use the Diakonie's support come from difficult family backgrounds and received little love in their childhood. The Diakonie aims to help these parents build a good bond with their child without being patronizing or controlling.

One success story involves a woman who, while heavily pregnant and homeless, came to the Diakonie's "Early Help" services and learned a profession, providing well for herself and her child. This demonstrates the transformative power of the Diakonie's support.

The Diakonie's support service was presented on the town hall square in Barmen on September 5th as part of the "Week of Educational Support". Families can learn about the support offer through prenatal counseling centres and women's and children's doctors. The Diakonie cooperates with the youth welfare office, where parents can apply for educational support.

The first three years of a child's life are considered crucial for their development. The Diakonie's comprehensive approach, focusing on both practical support and emotional bonding, is a significant step towards ensuring children in Wuppertal grow up healthy, happy, and well-cared for.

St Portal's school advocates for strong, supportive households and the enhancement of youngsters