Erfurt (dpa/th) - The youth welfare offices in Thuringia took care of 1,281 children and young people last year. The Thuringian State Office for Statistics said on Thursday in Erfurt that there were 22 cases or 1.7 percent fewer than in the previous year. In more than half of the measures, the reason for being taken into care was that the parents or one of the parents were overwhelmed - the most common reason with 651 measures.
According to the information, other focal points were neglect of those affected with 288 cases of taking into care (2020: 348 cases) and relationship problems with 207 cases (2020: 202 cases). The age group of children and young people from 14 to under 18 years was particularly frequently affected by a temporary protective measure with a share of 40.7 percent (521 children and young people).
More than half of the provisional protective measures (756 cases or 59.0 percent) were suggested by the youth welfare offices or social services (2020: 793 cases), a further 220 cases by the child or young person themselves (2020: 205 cases). The number of foreign children and young people temporarily taken into care after entering the country unaccompanied almost doubled to 63 (2020: 33 taken into care).
Taking into care is an option if there is an immediate danger to a child or young person. In this case, the youth welfare office will arrange for temporary accommodation, for example in a facility or with a suitable person.
