SOS Children's Villages in Vienna: Challenges and opportunities for the future!

SOS Children's Villages in Vienna: Challenges and opportunities for the future!

The role of SOS Children's Villages in child and youth welfare is currently the focus of a discussion that has been rocked by an abuse and mistreatment affair. Fears that funds for the organization could be lost are causing uncertainty in child and youth welfare, especially in Vienna, where MA 11 looks after around 240 children and young people in full education by SOS Children's Villages. The collaboration between Vienna's child and youth welfare services and SOS Children's Villages has existed since 2006 and has changed in recent years: classic children's village families are being phased out while shared apartments are being introduced. Transparency is very important and discussions with the children in care are an integral part of the collaboration.

Although the SOS Children's Village in Vienna does not rely on donations, support from the public sector is still essential. The daily rate, which includes rent, food and operating costs, is fully covered by the state. The organization looks after around 11% of children and young people in inpatient care in Vienna, and in Lower Austria the proportion is even less than 10%.

Allegations of abuse and their consequences

The current discussion is triggered by a report from an independent commission that examined 226 cases of attacks in SOS Children's Village facilities in Germany. These incidents, documented since the 1960s, include both violence and sexual assault. The chairman of the commission, Klaus Schäfer, said that the severity of the incidents has decreased over the decades, but reports continue to the present day. The attacks often took place in children's village families and residential groups, with around 40% of the attacks being carried out by employees.

In view of these circumstances, the board of SOS Children's Villages, represented by Sabina Schutter, apologized and emphasized that complaints were not always responded to appropriately. The case has led to the involvement of the public prosecutor's office and some reports have been handed over to the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office, which underlines the urgency of the issue.

Reforms and requirements for child and youth welfare

Christian Moser, Managing Director of SOS Children's Villages, is calling for immediate action from politicians and authorities in view of the high burden on families in Austria. More than 13,000 children and young people were not living with their families of origin in 2024, which is seen as an alarm signal. Moser criticizes the unequal treatment of children in need between different federal states and describes the transfer of authority to the states as a failure. A planned round table on quality standards in child and youth welfare is intended to involve external experts and help to reform an underfunded aid system.

In order to create a better care offering and avoid a shortage of skilled personnel, Moser calls for real reforms and investments from the public sector. This is the only way to offer the children in care adequate protection and support. SOS Children's Villages is already investing donations in quality-improving measures to improve the current situation and respond to the needs of the children.

Current developments make it clear that the challenges in child and youth welfare are complex and that there is an urgent need for action. For the future of the children and young people cared for by SOS Children's Villages, it remains to be seen how the organization and the relevant state authorities will adapt to the difficult issue.

For more information about the role of SOS Children's Villages in child and youth welfare, visit the articles from Small newspaper, daily news and the current statistics SOS Children's Villages.