German child and youth welfare policy developments

In August 2026, the German government released a draft for the First Child and Youth Welfare Structure Reform Act (1. KJHSRG). This proposed reform seeks to transition child and youth welfare toward a preventative and social-spatial approach, integrating support services into schools, daycare centers, and local social work to reach families more effectively.

While organizations like Leinerstift and the Evangelical Association of Educators (EREV) viewed the direction positively, experts cautioned that structural changes must not come at the expense of necessary individual assistance or prioritize system efficiency over the specific needs of children.

By September 2026, the focus on child welfare expanded to include environmental concerns. A coalition of 81 organizations, including the Kinderschutzbund and the German Alliance for Climate Change and Health (KLUG), released a position paper titled ‘Child Welfare in the Climate Crisis – Attend, Protect, Ensure’. The group demanded that governments prioritize child welfare as a standard for climate and adaptation policies, citing the disproportionate impact of extreme heat and pollution on young people. Their demands include mandatory heat protection in educational facilities and the binding involvement of youth in political decision-making.