Child protection - A few more tips from the Child Protection Hotline to youth workers
In the first half of the year, there were slightly more tips from the Child Protection Hotline to youth welfare offices in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern than in previous years. From January to June of this year, there were 167 tips and 17 more than in the first half of 2023, as the Social Ministry in Schwerin and the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Health and Social Office (Lagus) reported in response to an inquiry from the German Press Agency. The number was even higher in the first half of 2021, with 188 tips.
According to the reports, the tips always concern a potential threat to the child's welfare. Youth welfare offices followed up on these. Social Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) stated: "The Child Protection Hotline of the state is an important supplementary measure to continuously improve child protection."
The Minister explained that there will be a Child Protection Law in the state during this legislative period. "With this, we want to strengthen the rights of children and young people and further promote educational work and awareness-raising around child protection," emphasized Drese.
The number of information inquiries to the Child Protection Hotline was around 200 in the first half of the year, which was slightly below the value of the previous year's period. According to the ministry, this is about inquiries regarding the reporting of a potential threat to a child's welfare.
The ministry increased funding from approximately 190,000 euros to 200,000 euros for 2024. The hotline can be reached at 0800 14 14 007. The Child Protection League in MV welcomed the offer, as it is a good orientation aid, said Landesgeschäftsführer Carsten Spies.
Stefanie Drese, the Social Minister in Schwerin, highlighted the importance of the Child Protection Hotline in improving child protection efforts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Drese mentioned that they aim to strengthen the rights of children and young people and promote educational work and awareness-raising around child protection with the upcoming Child Protection Law in the state. The Youth Office in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern received 167 tips from the Child Protection Hotline in the first half of the year, more than in the same period of 2023. Carsten Spies, the Landesgeschäftsführer of the Child Protection League in MV, appreciated the ministry's decision to increase funding for the hotline from 190,000 euros to 200,000 euros for 2024.
