Funding for Social Counseling Centers

The funding program is aimed at operators of social counseling centers in Rhineland-Palatinate. Eligible applicants include, in particular, organizations of independent welfare, recognized providers of independent youth welfare, as well as municipal and other public bodies. The counseling centers must cover a regional need, have secure overall financing, and offer their counseling services free of charge.

The funding program supports social counseling centers in financing their specialist personnel costs for specific counseling services. The funding primarily covers integrated educational and family counseling as well as addiction counseling, each receiving different subsidy rates. The services must be provided by qualified, multi-professional teams and range from individual case counseling to prevention measures.

Funding is provided as a subsidy for the ongoing personnel costs of social counseling centers. The amount of the subsidy varies depending on the type of counseling center and the underlying specialist personnel costs, with a maximum funding rate being set.

For funding, social counseling centers must meet specific legal and qualitative requirements. These include secure overall financing, the employment of qualified specialists, and the provision of low-threshold, barrier-free, and free counseling services. Close cooperation with municipal agencies and other services, as well as compliance with documentation and data protection obligations, are also required.

Applications for funding must be submitted annually by April 1st to the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Supply. A professional statement from the locally responsible youth or social welfare agency is required. Funding approval takes place by November 1st of the respective year, and the disbursement of grants occurs in two installments.

The funding of social counseling centers is based on a specific administrative regulation of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, which details the framework conditions, requirements, and procedures for financial support. In addition, other state and federal legal provisions apply, particularly from the Social Code.