Early help

Early help is offered right from the start. They are aimed at parents from pregnancy and families with children up to the age of 3. The support includes practical help, advice, mediation and support. Parents can use the services on request. They are free of charge and easy to access.

EARLY HELP OFFERS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT WHEN ...

you feel left alone with the care of your child

You have the feeling that everything is too much for you right now.

You are unsure about how to bring up your child.

You have questions about your child's development.You feel tired because your child cries a lot.

You are afraid that you won't be able to provide enough care for your child.

there are conflicts in the partnership.

Don't be afraid to ask for support. The sooner you get help, the sooner you will receive relief.

STARTING POINTS FOR PARENTS

Every local authority has early help contact points for parents. They guide those affected to the help they need. These contact points can be different institutions: Early help centers, family offices, parenting advice centers, parent cafés, etc.

CONTACT PERSONS IN THE YOUTH OFFICES

Each youth welfare office also has a contact person responsible for early help: the early help network coordinator. They take care of the local Early Help Network, which brings together professionals from child and youth welfare, healthcare, pregnancy counseling and early intervention.

FEDERAL NETWORK

The network coordination and the Early Intervention Network work to continuously record the needs of expectant parents and families with young children and to further develop the range of services for them.

The early help services are diverse and can vary from municipality to municipality (city or district). All services are free of charge and voluntary. The following support services and contact points are available (almost) everywhere:

Counseling for pregnant women

If problems and worries prevail after you find out about your pregnancy and you feel unsure, you can contact a pregnancy advice center. There you will receive help and answers to all your questions about pregnancy, birth and the first years of your child's life. The counselors are bound to secrecy and treat all information confidentially. Pregnant women in financial need can also receive financial support from pregnancy advice centers.

FAMILY AND PARENTAL COUNSELING CENTERS

If you would like support for your family life or for raising your child, you will find trustworthy contacts at family and parenting advice centers.

WELCOME VISITS

Almost all municipalities in NRW offer parents with newborns a welcome visit. The aim of the visit is to congratulate the parents on the birth, provide information about family-related services and contact points in the parents' place of residence and, if necessary, discuss specific questions from the families in more detail. In most municipalities, specialists from the youth welfare office or an independent child and youth welfare organization visit the families, while in some, volunteers take on this task.

The welcome visit offers parents the opportunity to clarify many questions that arise in the first few weeks after the birth: Where can I meet other parents? Where can I attend a baby food cooking class? How do I get a place in a daycare center? And much more.

Visitors can get compact information. And if questions cannot be answered in conversation or there is a need for further support, suitable contact persons or assistance can be arranged.

the health-oriented family support service

Nursing and caring for the baby, the new role as parents, organizing the living situation and household, coping with changes in partnership, education, school and work. In this situation, it is important to receive concrete and practical support in everyday life right from the start.

This is what family midwives and family health and pediatric nurses can provide. While midwives can usually accompany a family for up to 3 months, these specially trained healthcare professionals have the opportunity to look after families for much longer and advise and support parents on the care and nutrition of their baby, their relationship with the child and the organization of everyday life with an infant.

FAMILY GODPERS

The grandparents live far away, you've just moved to the city or everyday family life is bursting at the seams: There can be many reasons why parents feel alone and would like some relief. This is where family mentors can help.

They work on a voluntary basis and can give parents a break or some undisturbed time with their newborn by taking over childcare, helping with shopping and errands and connecting the family with other places in the area (daycare center, family education, sports club, church community, etc.).

parent-child meetings

Parent-child meetings or parent cafés can be found in various facilities, e.g. in family centers or district centers. You can meet other parents there in an uncomplicated and informal way. You may also get to know mothers and fathers who are in a similar situation to you through the parent-child get-together. Then you can support each other. Your child can play with other children there.

HELP IF YOUR CHILD SCREAMS A LOT

If your child cries a lot and is difficult to calm down, you can get help. In all municipalities, you can find advice and help from family midwives, family health and children's nurses or advice centers. In many municipalities there are even special "crying outpatient clinics". You can find the addresses of crying outpatient clinics in your area in the "search for crying outpatient clinics".

PARENTING COURSES

There are a variety of different course formats that parents can attend to support their children, feel more confident in parenting and get to know other parents. You can find detailed information in the article on baby courses