Suche
Mein Konto
Fight for family centers: Mayors resist closures!
Rheinsberg: Mayor criticizes the planned closure of family centers that will only offer social assistance on a mobile basis from 2026.
Fight for family centers: Mayors resist closures!
Today the news from Brandenburg draws attention to the impending closure of the family centers in Kyritz, Rheinsberg, Wittstock and Wusterhausen. This decision, which is due to come into force at the end of the year, is causing great discontent among the mayors of the affected cities. Loud maz-online.de Rheinsberg's mayor Frank-Rudi Schwochow raises the question of how parents and children should keep in touch on the move if the current locations are closed.
The family centers, which are run by various providers such as the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo), the German Red Cross (DRK) and Volkssolidarität, have so far been considered contact points for families and play a central role in supporting families in the region. “The family center is a successful model,” emphasizes Wusterhausen Mayor Philipp Schulz and emphasizes that the closure would also affect seniors who rely on these services.
The district’s change of perspective
The Ostprignitz-Ruppin district is planning a “change of perspective” in which family support assistance will only be offered on mobile devices in the future. The youth welfare committee in Neuruppin will discuss the reorganization in mid-September, while further support for the family centers over the next two years is set at 450,000 euros for 2025 and 460,000 euros for 2026. rbb24.de reports that the closures are already being initiated due to increased personnel costs and changed funding conditions, as the district has little hope of extending the funding contracts.
The mobile version, which is intended to avoid “duplicate structures and parallel offerings”, is encountering resistance. Anke Wittmoser-Steinfurth from Wittstock criticizes that this is not equivalent and that concerns about disadvantaged children outweigh the concerns. The DRK, which runs the family center in Rheinsberg, also expresses concerns, while Volkssolidarität fears that the closure could have serious consequences for many of those affected.
The importance of family centers in Brandenburg
Family centers are strongly anchored in Brandenburg. You are part of a large network that includes many providers and offers that support families in difficult life situations. Loud mgs.brandenburg.de They offer help and advice for pregnant women, single parents and families with relatives in need of care. Mobile family centers in the form of advice buses are intended to reach families in rural areas and make everyday life easier.
The future of the family centers in Ostprignitz-Ruppin remains uncertain, while the public discussion about the importance of stable and accessible offers intensifies. According to skeptical voices, the exchange between parents in the existing centers is irreplaceable and could be severely affected by the planned changes. It remains to be seen what solution the district will present after the Youth Welfare Committee meeting.