Funding for Coordinating Child Protection Centers (KoKi – Early Childhood Network)

The funding initiative for the establishment and operation of regional Coordinating Child Protection Centers is aimed at municipalities as local providers of public youth welfare services in Bavaria. The goal is to expand social early warning and support systems to further develop preventive child protection by building reliable networks that provide timely support to parents and families. As a grant, the program covers up to 50% of the personnel costs and provides a maximum amount of €16,500 per year and full-time position. The funding is granted for a project duration of 12 months and contributes to the early identification of risks in child development as well as the long-term strengthening of protective factors. Professionals take on the coordination, networking, and public relations work within the local “Early Childhood Network” and support parents in voluntary cooperation with health and counseling institutions.

Only local providers of public youth welfare services in Bavaria who contribute their own share equal to the state funding are eligible to apply. A prerequisite for the grant is the establishment, maintenance, and further development of binding regional networks, the referral of parents to suitable network partners, and the joint development of a child protection concept approved by the Youth Welfare Committee. The Coordinating Child Protection Center must be staffed with at least 1.5 full-time positions, filled by professionals with a university degree in Social Work or an equivalent qualification, as well as appropriate professional and legal expertise. Timely submission of the application to the responsible district government before the start of the respective fiscal year is required to provide the regional offices with early planning security and to ensure sustainable implementation.