Youth Policy in Dortmund: School-to-Work Transition and Health Promotion in Focus

School-to-Work Transition: A Structured Approach for the Future

The city of Dortmund has focused intensively on the school-to-work transition to best prepare young people for the challenges of the labor market. A central component is the advisory board "Regional School-to-Work Transition Management," which serves as a coordination center and organizes collaboration between educational institutions, companies, and advisory agencies. The goal is to create reliable transitions into vocational training, higher education, or employment.

An innovative narrative in this context is "Journey," which represents the transition as a journey with the phases "Look around," "Explore," and "Onboarding." This approach not only promotes self-reflection but also the active planning of professional futures. At the 2024 Focus Conference, 250 participants from various sectors were able to discuss and develop solutions.

Another milestone is the digital booking portal "dortmundatwork.de," offering over 1,800 internship positions. The high demand underscores the importance of practical experience in the transition. Complementing this, new formats such as the AI-assisted bot for career orientation and the "Five-Star Internship" have been introduced to further improve the quality of internships.

Health Promotion: From School to the Family

Health equity is another central theme of Dortmund's youth policy. With the health goal "All children grow up healthy—even under difficult living conditions," the city is promoting a holistic approach to health, physical activity, and nutrition. In particular, disadvantaged social areas, where the rate of overweight children is above the state average, are being addressed with targeted measures.

Schools play a crucial role in this. In several primary schools, health professionals are active, providing not only lessons but also organizing parent meetings and events. The success is measurable: the proportion of students walking to school increased from 33 to 49 percent. In addition, healthy eating and physical activity are actively promoted through the EU School Fruit Program and other projects.

Youth Participation and Networking: Young People as Shapers

The inclusion of young people in political decision-making processes is a central part of Dortmund's youth policy. Young people should not only be cared for but also included as shapers of the future. This is made possible through various formats such as youth forums, advisory talks, and workshops.

An example is the "Dortmunder Weg" (Dortmund Path), a project supporting system disruptors—youth with complex support needs. In cooperation with various institutions, including the youth office and independent providers, a structured approach is being developed that focuses on crisis intervention and long-term support. The evaluation by Prof. Dr. Jochem Kotthaus is expected to be completed in October 2026.

Challenges and Outlook

Despite many positive developments, challenges remain. In some areas, a lack of personnel and financial resources hampers the implementation of long-term projects. The temporary nature of positions in addiction prevention and the long lead times for events show that more continuity and planning security are needed.

Looking ahead to the coming years, it will be important to further strengthen the cooperation between schools, business, and youth welfare services. In addition, digital offerings such as the AI bot and the digital booking portal must be continuously expanded to optimally support young people. At the same time, it is essential to continue advancing health equity—particularly in disadvantaged social areas.