Education and Public Institutions in Bottrop: Focus on Mental Health, Youth Support, and Structural Security

Education and Public Institutions in Bottrop: Focus on Mental Health, Youth Support, and Structural Security

Education is a central building block for a city's future viability. In February 2026, Bottrop's political representatives addressed several key topics within education and public institutions. The focus was on promoting mental health, ensuring long-term youth support, and improving transparency and fairness in the funding of child care and youth services.

Prevention of Mental Health Crises in Schools

A central project discussed and continued in the meeting is the prevention program "Verrückt? Na und! Seelisch fit in der Schule" ("Crazy? So what! Mentally fit in school"). This program was introduced at three secondary schools in Bottrop and is part of a nationwide initiative active at over 95 locations.

Each school participates in a dedicated project day, led by teams combining professional and personal expertise, to address mental health. The aim is to reduce the stigmatization of mental health crises and to lower barriers to accessing advisory and support systems. Evaluation reports show that 95% of students feel empowered by the program and have significantly improved their knowledge of mental health.

The project is funded with 4,000 euros in 2026, and annual costs of 4,000 euros are planned from 2027 onwards. By doing so, the city of Bottrop is consciously investing in long-term prevention of mental stress and is also strengthening the role of teachers and school social workers as first points of contact.

Children and Youth Support Plan 2026–2030: Security for the Future

Another milestone in Bottrop’s educational policy is the Children and Youth Support Plan (KJFP) 2026–2030, which was adopted in February. This plan is the first municipal support plan in Bottrop that spans two legislative periods and is based on legal requirements set by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The KJFP has an annual budget of 2,214,400 euros and is divided into seven chapters covering topics such as inclusion, participation, democracy, children's rights, and child protection. Notably, the plan was developed in cooperation with young people, youth organizations, the youth parliament, and other stakeholders — a clear sign of the city’s appreciation for youth involvement in political processes.

The KJFP is not only an instrument for securing financial resources but also a quality framework that strengthens municipal child protection and youth support. Plans for the period after 2030 are already in development, showing that Bottrop is thinking long-term about the future of its youth.

Parental Contributions: Transparent and Fair Regulation

Another topic discussed in the meeting was the new regulation of parental contributions for extracurricular child care services in the primary sector. The new ordinance, which comes into effect on May 1, 2026, regulates contributions in a transparent manner and aligns them with the economic capacity of parents.

Contributions will increase by 3% annually and include exemptions for families with low incomes, such as recipients of SGB II or SGB XII benefits. At the same time, a clear liability clause for the closure of child care services is established to reduce legal uncertainty for parents.

These regulations represent a step toward a fairer funding model for the child care services offered by Bottrop for primary school children. They also signal that financial barriers should not lead to disadvantages, ensuring that all families — regardless of their economic situation — have access to child care and educational services.

Outlook: Inclusive and Evaluative Educational Policy

With these measures, Bottrop is pursuing an inclusive and evaluative educational policy that responds to the current needs of young people while also creating long-term structures. Projects like "Verrückt? Na und!" or the KJFP show that the city is not only aiming at problem-solving but also at strengthening resources, self-efficacy, and participation.

In addition, evaluation is a central pillar that ensures the effectiveness of the funds and measures deployed. For instance, the results of the structural data collection will be integrated into the KJFP for 2028/2029 to continuously improve the quality of youth work.

Conclusion: Education as an Investment in the Future

The decisions and initiatives in the field of education and public institutions in Bottrop demonstrate a clear political will: education is not only a right but also an investment in the city's future. By promoting mental health, securing financial resources for youth support, and creating fair and transparent regulations, Bottrop is being prepared in a sustainable way for the challenges to come.