All information on the wide range of advisory services

Multi-generation houses strengthen neighborly coexistence. They offer space for joint activities and exchanges. Multi-generation houses are open to all people - regardless of their age or origin. People get to talk to each other and can contribute their experiences and skills and support each other. Each multi-generation house also has a variety of offers - from advice to various courses and workshops.

If money worries are looming, the mountain of debt is growing or you have already lost track of your spending, debt advice centers can help. The counselor will work with you to find a good solution and support you in regaining an overview of your financial resources and reducing existing debts as much as possible. In some cases, debt counseling can also provide long-term support to those seeking advice with the aim of debt relief (personal insolvency).

Family associations in North Rhine-Westphalia want to make families visible in all their diversity and are contact partners for society, science and political actors. The activities of the family associations include:

• raising awareness of the needs of families,
• taking a stand on political processes,
• close cooperation and networking with those involved in family-specific services,
• organizing (specialist) events on family-specific issues.

Are you looking for services relating to the development and upbringing of your child or would you like to talk to other parents about everyday issues? Then family education in North Rhine-Westphalia is a strong partner. At numerous locations, the family education centers offer a diverse course program with on-site offers or in digital formats. For example:

• Baby courses and parent-child courses on all aspects of pregnancy and birth
• Seminars, workshops, lectures on current topics relating to family life, parenting and child development
• Events on various topics relating to lifestyle, parenting and everyday family life
• Courses for couples, offers for mothers and fathers, family get-togethers, courses on crisis and conflict resolution

In North Rhine-Westphalia, children, young people, adolescents and parents can turn to family counseling centers free of charge and confidentially. There they receive help and support with questions about family life:

• Family counseling mediates in conflicts and disputes within the family and offers solutions
• Family counseling can help parents with parenting issues
• Family counseling provides help and seeks solutions, e.g. in the event of separation, illness or the death of a family member
• Family counselling provides support with addiction problems, financial difficulties or mental illness, for example.

In addition to general family counselling, there are also counselling centres that specialize in one topic, e.g. educational counselling and specialist counselling for sexualized violence. Most counseling centers support all those seeking advice.

Family offices in North Rhine-Westphalia see themselves as central service and contact points for families and their issues. The tasks of a family office can vary from municipality to municipality.

These include, for example:

• Individual information and referral to advisory contacts as well as local or regional support services
• Information about services offered by youth welfare offices or leisure activities for children and families
• Courses and activities such as parent-child groups, meeting cafés, temporary play and activity programs for children

The youth welfare offices in North Rhine-Westphalia are contact points for families, children and young people with childcare issues or family challenges and offer tailored support. This includes:

• Information about local childcare services and help with referrals,
• advice and specific help in special situations or life events, e.g. separation and divorce
• . in the event of separation and divorce
• parental assistance, integration assistance and assistance for young adults,
• adoption mediation,
• advice on whether and to what extent a maintenance claim exists,
• childcare service.

In a specialized counselling centre for sexualized violence, the specialist staff will listen to you and offer you support. You can talk about your situation calmly, confidentially and, if you wish, anonymously and ask any questions you may have. We will then discuss options and further steps together.

Educational counseling strengthens the educational skills of parents and other caregivers. The specialists support children and young people with individual problems, whether within the family, at school or with themselves. They provide confidential support to children, young people and parents and work with them to develop forms of communication and behavior.

In addition to educational counseling, there are general family counseling centers that can be contacted for questions about family life. There are also offices for specialized counselling in cases of sexualized violence.

The recognized pregnancy advice centres in North Rhine-Westphalia support expectant mothers, fathers and parents with all questions, worries and fears relating to pregnancy and birth. Experienced advisors listen and can recommend specific help and support services. The consultations are free of charge, confidential and anonymous if desired. They can take place in person, over the phone or online.

The topics covered by a pregnancy advice center can include

• Information about help for pregnant women and families,
• Pregnancy progression and preventive care,
• Unwanted pregnancy, conflict counseling and abortion options,
• Confidential birth, adoption and foster care,
• Family planning, Partnership and role allocation,
• Partnership conflicts during pregnancy and after the birth,
• Single parenting at birth,
• Domestic violence,
• Occupational health and safety during pregnancy,
• Legal issues