Independent child and youth welfare providers

17. Who are the independent providers of child and youth welfare?

Non-profit-making organisations

Independent child and youth welfare providers are those institutions and organisations which provide services within the framework of child and youth welfare in accordance with § 2 of the Social Security Code, Chapter 8. This designation, however, is generally applied only to those legal entities or pluralities of individuals who are active in the field of child and youth welfare on a non-profit-making basis.

A distinction is made between local providers of public child and youth welfare, who are responsible for municipal day care facilities, and the independent providers who are adding increasingly to the valuable diversity of day care offers.

Provider philosophy and specific focus

According to the Saxon Law on Day Care and Promotion Facilities for Children (SächsKitaG), child day care facilities may be operated by either independent providers, e.g. parents initiatives, companies or public institutions, or public providers of child and youth welfare.

All operators of child day care facilities found their commitment, within the framework of statutory principles and requirements, on humanistic or religious convictions to which they feel bound of their own free will. On the basis of this individual philosophy, they are able to define more or less specific focuses under the common umbrella of care, education and development objectives.

Dresden

In Dresden, there are currently 144 child day care facilities operated by independent providers, in addition to the 134 municipal facilities. All forms of day care are also offered by the independent welfare providers. To further promote the plurality of providers, and thus the diversity of offers and options for parents, a number of new transfers of municipal facilities into the hands of independent providers are in preparation.

Recognised providers

According to § 75 of the Social Security Code, Chapter 8, »... recognised providers of independent child and youth welfare are persons and associations who

1. are active in the field of child and youth welfare,
2. pursue charitable or non-profit-making objectives,
3. by way of their professional and personnel background, demonstrate that they are capable of making a significant contribution to the goals of child and youth welfare, and
4. guarantee work conducive to the goals anchored in fundamental law.

Subject to the provisions of clause (1), an entitlement to recognition as a provider of independent child and youth welfare is due to those who have been active in the field of child and youth welfare for at least three years.« Nationally recognised providers of independent child and youth welfare are:

• German Parity Welfare Association (DPWV),
• German Caritas Association (DCV),
• Workers' Welfare Association (AWO),
• Diaconia Mission of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD),
• German Red Cross (DRK) and
• Central Jewish Welfare Agency in Germany (ZWST).

Since the Saxon Law on Day Care and Promotion Facilities for Children (SächsKitaG) became effective on 1st January 2002, official recognition as a provider of independent child and youth welfare is no longer a prerequisite for the allocation of public funds in the Free State of Saxony.

Contacts

The educational concept of the day care facilities operated by independent providers reflect the philosophy and principles of the provider concerned. If parents have any specific questions concerning thematic focuses, nature or ideological background, they are recommended to contact the relevant provider directly for further information.

Parent contributions

The contributions which parents are required to pay for independent child day care facilities within the framework of the official demand planning of the City of Dresden correspond exactly to those for municipal day care facilities. They are laid down as common contributions for all forms of care in the current statutes on the collection of contributions for the promotion of children in child day care facilities and personal day care.

If several children of one family attend a day care facility or child minder within the framework of the demand planning, then reduced parent contributions apply, irrespective of the welfare provider. Parents are entitled to apply for contribution reductions or exemptions. Applications must be submitted to the Contributions Office of the Child Day Care Agency of Dresden (see Question 14).

Contact

Child Day Care Agency for Dresden

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Visitor address

Dr.-Külz-Ring 19
01067 Dresden

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Phone +49-(0)351-4885045, -26, -43

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Postal address

Postfach 12 00 20
01001 Dresden