Niemiecki Urząd ds. Dzieci i Młodzieży (Jugendamt)

Abstract

German youth Welfare departments function as parts of local government units. Although these institutions carry many functions within the whole social welfare system, the possibility of the social workers to take a child away from the guardians for the child’s sake and to hand the child over to social welfare departments or foster families gives rise to much controversy. Th e verifi cation of such a decision can only be made by taking legal steps, as there are no appeal proceedings in the German legislation. Th e opponents of the youth Welfare department activities accuse social services and courts of discriminating against parents who are non-German citizens. Th is article presents the activities of youth Welfare departments and legal basis of their functioning with reference to the widespread media criticism.