Wegweiser Parents & Families · Rights and benefits for your child Deutsch

🤝 Educational support: your right to assistance

If parenting becomes difficult, you can ask the Jugendamt for help before anything happens.

educational support youth welfare assistance § 27 SGB VIII support plan parenting difficulties

In brief

You do not have to wait until there is a problem. If parenting that serves your child's wellbeing is no longer assured, you are entitled to educational support (Hilfe zur Erziehung).

The help must be suitable and necessary for the child's development.

Before help is approved, the Jugendamt advises you and your child. The advice must be understandable and comprehensible. You will also be told how the help may affect the child's development.

Step by step

  1. Appointment at the JugendamtArrange a meeting at the local Jugendamt.
  2. Describe the situationDescribe where you need support.
  3. Use the adviceHave the possible kinds of help and their consequences explained to you.
  4. Put the application in writingPut your application in writing and keep the notice of decision (Bescheid).

Deadlines

Entitlement, no deadline
Entitlement of persons with custody to educational support where parenting in the child's best interests is not assured§ 27 Abs. 1 SGB VIII
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The person with custody of the person is entitled. With joint custody, coordination may be needed.
  • Which help is approved is decided by the Jugendamt according to suitability and necessity; remedies against a notice of decision were not checked here.
  • The individual types of help (such as parenting counselling, family assistance) were not checked individually.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Entitlement

§ 27 Abs. 1 SGB VIII: A person with custody of the person is entitled to help in bringing up a child or young person (Hilfe zur Erziehung) if parenting that serves the wellbeing of the child or young person is not assured and the help is suitable and necessary for the child's development.

Advice before the help

§ 36 Abs. 1 SGB VIII: Before deciding on the use of a form of help and before any necessary change in its type and scope, the public youth welfare provider must advise the persons with custody and the child or young person and point out possible consequences for the child's development; the advice is to be given in an understandable, comprehensible and perceptible form.

Not checked

Types of help under §§ 28 ff. SGB VIII, parents' contribution to costs and the support-plan procedure in detail.

Who is responsible
  • Local Jugendamt
Further reading
Child protection and the Jugendamt: your rightsThe child's own rights, independent of the parents

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Educational support: your right to assistance“?
If parenting becomes difficult, you can ask the Jugendamt for help before anything happens.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
Entitlement, no deadline: Entitlement of persons with custody to educational support where parenting in the child's best interests is not assured (§ 27 Abs. 1 SGB VIII)
What should I do first?
  • Appointment at the Jugendamt: Arrange a meeting at the local Jugendamt.
  • Describe the situation: Describe where you need support.
  • Use the advice: Have the possible kinds of help and their consequences explained to you.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The person with custody of the person is entitled. With joint custody, coordination may be needed.
  • Which help is approved is decided by the Jugendamt according to suitability and necessity; remedies against a notice of decision were not checked here.
  • The individual types of help (such as parenting counselling, family assistance) were not checked individually.
Evidence
  • Gesetze im Internet, § 27 SGB VIII, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, § 36 SGB VIII, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.