Fight for the future: Family centers in the Werra-Meißner district on the brink!

Fight for the future: Family centers in the Werra-Meißner district on the brink!

The family centers in the Werra-Meißner district are facing major challenges. How HNA reported that the five centers in the region, including the Dandelion in Witzenhausen, the Evangelical Family Education Center and the Heuberg district store in Eschwege, the Bad Sooden-Allendorf family center and the Arche in Hessisch Lichtenau, are confronted with financial bottlenecks. The topics they address are as diverse as they are important: loneliness, poverty, addiction, parenting advice and educational opportunities - all of which are issues that urgently need to be addressed in our society.

These family centers are open to everyone and offer a colorful program for all generations and cultures. From parent and family education to sports and creative activities to social advice and play groups - there is something for everyone here. The Hessian family portal emphasizes that the centers act as hubs where families are supported in different life situations.

Financial insecurity and funding issues

A big problem: Financial support for the family centers depends on funding that has to be applied for every year. Currently, the centers, which have received up to 18,000 euros annually since 2011, cannot look forward to a secure future. The facilities had to submit funding applications for 2025, although only four of the five centers received basic funding. The Dandelion in Witzenhausen received a negative decision, which further exacerbated the already tense situation.

The Bad Sooden-Allendorf family center has positioned itself cleverly and is additionally financed through grants, membership fees, donations and project funding. Nevertheless, lower funding from the city and the sponsor puts the burden on those responsible and significantly increases the effort required to acquire funds.

Support from the state service center

The State Service Office for Family Centers in Hesse has existed since October 1, 2020. This institution specializes in supporting the professionalism of family centers, offers advice and information, develops qualification measures and promotes networking between the institutions. This is a step in the right direction to give family centers the tools they need in an increasingly challenging environment.

There are a total of 229 family centers in Hesse. There are at least two of these valuable contact points in every district of Hesse. However, the situation in the Werra-Meißner district clearly shows that there is still a long way to go in order to sustainably secure the financing and thus the offerings of the family centers. The need for these important facilities remains undisputed, and it is now up to politicians and society to set the course for better support.