Neunkirchen starts school social work in elementary schools: a new way to support children
Neunkirchen starts school social work in elementary schools: a new way to support children
The new project of school social work began in October 2024 in the elementary schools of the municipality of Neunkirchen. This offer is aimed at the pupils to help you with personal problems such as disputes among friends, bullying or family difficulties.
On a fixed day a week, a school social worker will be available in elementary schools to carry out personal consultations and offer workshops. In a first phase, the program was introduced to the Mühlfeld and Peisching elementary schools, followed by an extension to the Steinfeld elementary school and the general special school in the coming weeks. Overall, the program is offered 24 hours a week, conducted by the youth development association Neunkirchen (JFNK).
comprehensive support offer
With this initiative, Neunkirchen has established a comprehensive concept for school social work in the middle schools and elementary schools. Such an approach is extremely rare in Austria and is only offered in another city in Lower Austria. Education City Councilor Thomas Rack emphasizes that it is important to the municipality to intervene at an early stage in the event of problems and to offer support. "We decided to support this offer financially to help the children," he added.The demand for this offer is high. Director Marion Baumgartner, who is responsible for the elementary schools in Peisching and Mühlfeld, reports: "We are overjoyed! The children are enthusiastic and use the opportunity to speak to a neutral person." The students have the option of throwing a note in a mailbox anonymously so that they can easily make an appointment, which is a relief for both pupils and teachers.
Financing is shared by the country and the municipality, whereby the country pays two thirds of the costs. Around 615 children currently visit the four schools that are integrated into the program. This early intervention makes it possible to actively dismantle educational disadvantage and promote the development of the students. Positive advisory experiences in primary school are also seen as a preventive measure to possibly identify future problems at an early stage.
The school social worker will not only be available for individual conversations, but also offer workshops on different topics in order to strengthen the social skills of the children. More details can be found in a detailed report www.wn24.at.
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