Early Help Fund

The "Early Help Fund" program in Thuringia aims to sustainably secure and further develop psychosocial support for expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers aged 0 to 3 years. The main applicants are the districts and independent cities of Thuringia, which use the funding for corresponding measures within their region. The overarching goal is the permanent preservation and quality development of Early Help networks.

The "Early Help Fund" program supports personnel and material costs for securing and developing Early Help networks, as well as specific psychosocial support services for families in Thuringia. This includes measures for coordination, support by specialists such as family midwives, and the involvement of volunteers. Furthermore, the testing of innovative approaches and the implementation of successful models are supported, while investments and general health promotion are excluded.

The Early Help Fund grants subsidies as non-repayable, lump-sum fixed-amount financing to the local public youth welfare providers. The amount of the subsidy consists of an annual basic flat rate (15,000 € for 2024, 20,000 € from 2025) and a variable component based on the number of children under three years of age. Co-financing by the grant recipients is not required.

For funding, the districts and independent cities in Thuringia must submit annual applications, in which they break down the requested federal funds by funding areas. They are obligated to participate in surveys, evaluations, and reporting requirements and must employ qualified personnel. The funds can be passed on to third parties, whereby the conditions of the state and audit rights must be passed on. The use of funds is limited to personnel and material costs up to 800 Euro net per item, and the remuneration of employees must not exceed that of comparable federal or municipal employees.

The application procedure for the Early Help Fund in Thuringia requires the submission of the funding application by November 30 of the preceding year for the following year to the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Approval and disbursement are carried out by this authority. An early start of measures is possible under certain conditions. The funded providers must also submit a simple proof of use including a numerical verification and factual report.

The Early Help Fund in Thuringia is based on a specific guideline of the Free State, which in turn is based on the Law on Cooperation and Information in Child Protection (KKG) from 2011. Additionally, the Thuringian State Budget Ordinance (ThürLHO), the Federal Budget Ordinance (BHO), and the Tenth Book of the Social Code (SGB X), as well as an administrative agreement between the Federal Government and the states, apply. This comprehensive legal basis ensures the legitimacy and framework for the sustainable implementation of Early Help.