European City Saarlouis further expands child protection in daycare centers
The European City Saarlouis strengthens the protection of children in its daycare centers by creating a new specialist role: the Child Protection Specialist. This measure further develops child protection and sustainably supports the implementation of children’s rights in everyday daycare life.
The specialist accompanies the facilities in all matters of child protection. They advise educational teams, support the development and implementation of protection concepts as well as participation and complaint procedures, and provide expert assistance in assessing stress or risk situations. At the same time, they help to inform parents at an early stage and to mediate appropriate support services.
“With the training and introduction of Child Protection Specialists, we not only strengthen our protection concepts but also the educational quality in our daycare centers. Child protection is not an isolated field of action for us, but a fundamental attitude reflected in daily interactions, in children's participation, and in a trusting cooperation with families. The Child Protection Specialists support their teams in consistently living children’s rights and sustainably anchoring a culture of attentiveness, responsibility, and prevention,” explains Katrin Baier, Educational Director of Daycare Centers.
“I thank all employees who have agreed to take on this responsible role as Child Protection Specialists. Their training equips them with the necessary tools to protect children at an early stage and to provide professional support to the educational teams,” emphasizes Thomas Klein, Head of the Office for Early Childhood Education, Schools, and Sports.
In addition to supporting individual cases, a special focus is placed on prevention. The goal is to create safe framework conditions for children, promote their participation, and firmly establish child protection as a permanent component of quality development in the facilities.
Mayor Carsten Quirin also sees the introduction of the specialists as an important step for the further development of the city’s daycare centers: “With this qualification, we sharpen the profile of our daycare centers and send a clear signal for quality in child protection. At the same time, we strengthen our attractiveness as a provider and employer.”
Through close cooperation with daycare center management, specialist advisers, the Youth Welfare Office, and other network partners, Saarlouis strengthens professional exchange and continuously further develops existing protection structures.
With the introduction of the Child Protection Specialist, the European City sends a clear signal for the protection, participation, and rights of children.
Caption: Presentation of certificates to the participants of the qualification for the role of Child Protection Officer.
