Childcare and Youth Welfare in Leipzig: Focus on Structure, Quality, and Inclusion

Childcare and Youth Welfare in Leipzig: Structure, Quality Development, and Inclusion

Leipzig has intensively engaged with the future of childcare and youth welfare in the months of May and June 2026. The city focused on both infrastructural measures as well as quality development and inclusion strategies. The decisions made by the Youth Welfare Committee and the administration show that Leipzig aims for a long-term, sustainable, and comprehensive care and support structure for children, youth, and young adults.

Structure of Open Youth Work

A central focus was on ensuring Open Youth Work (OKJA) in all city districts. It is planned that at least two OKJA offers per district and priority area will be in place. The facilities are designed to be open at least 24 hours per week on four days, including afternoons and evenings, as well as weekends and school holidays.

The usage statistics from 2023 show that on average, 150 young people per facility use the offers – 40 % of them on a daily basis. In certain districts such as Grünau and Ost/Südost, even higher minimum standards are defined in order to specifically reach particularly disadvantaged youth.

Quality Development and Staff Management

Quality assurance is a central element of the new strategy. Staff must hold social educational university degrees, and for leadership roles, a Master's degree is ideally required. They are supported by trainees, volunteers, and paid staff.

Further training and supervision are mandatory: at least three days per year. Facilities must be equipped with barrier-free spaces, media technology, and a dedicated office. Supervision, reflection, and documentation contribute to ensuring structural and process quality. Outcome quality is evaluated through quantitative and qualitative assessments.

Inclusion and Participation

Inclusion is a central principle of the new funding concept. Offers are age- and interest-specific, differentiated, and participatory. The target groups range from 3 to 27 years, with a particular focus on 10- to 21-year-olds and families. Offers support social, emotional, and cultural development and contribute to promoting democracy, social participation, and preventing discrimination.

The city of Leipzig is committed to voluntarism, low thresholds, solution orientation, and empowerment. Youth should be actively involved in shaping the offers, which is also considered in youth work and children and youth cultural work.

Mobile Youth Work and Child Protection

Another focus was the establishment of mobile youth work. It is planned to create at least one offer per planning area. In addition, at least one mobile child social work for children under 14 years in priority areas is to be established – without burdening existing mobile youth work.

To ensure child protection, the city of Leipzig has adopted professional standards for educational child and youth protection. These are legally mandated and include standard processes, quality monitoring, and the designation of specific professionals. Youth organizations also demand process support for the development of protection concepts, which should take into account the special situation of group leaders – often volunteers and unpaid.

Funding and Prioritization

The funding of the measures is transparent and structured. In the funding year 2026, 65.26 % (approx. 15 million euros) of the total budget for child and youth support is allocated to youth work measures according to § 811 SGB VIII. Of a total of 157 funded measures, 88 are categorized under § 811 SGB VIII. The prioritization matrix was discussed in the Youth Welfare Committee on 22.06.2026.

Priority is given to youth work according to § 11 SGB VIII, followed by children and youth cultural work. Offers of Open Youth Work are provided comprehensively in all planning areas as basic offers. Special prioritization is given to media educational offers and the play equipment work.

Previous Developments

In 2026, the city of Leipzig updates its demand planning for childcare, in order to cover the increasing demand for childcare places through new constructions, renovations, and closures. Structural changes and the expansion of inclusion are also taken into account.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Sustainable Youth Welfare

The decisions in Leipzig show a clear vision of what the future of childcare and youth welfare can look like: structured, inclusive, and of high quality. The city has deliberately decided not to lower the evaluation threshold for funding measures in order to protect existing measures. At the same time, the prioritization of measures with more than 75 % evaluation has been established, with measures from 85 % and above being preferred in the case of budget constraints.

These measures not only contribute to the stabilization of youth welfare, but also to the strengthening of social participation and the promotion of key competencies. In the coming months, it will be important to monitor the implementation of these decisions and ensure that they take effect in practice – and not just on paper.