Bundesnetzwerk Ombudschaft in der Jugendhilfe eV

The Federal Coordination Office (BKO) for Ombudsmanship in Child and Youth Welfare is a central instance dedicated to providing independent information, advice, and mediation in conflicts between young people, their families, and the providers of child and youth welfare.

• Professional Exchange and Coordination: The BKO coordinates the professional exchange between the ombudsman offices connected in the Federal Network and consolidates insights on the topic of ombudsmanship in child and youth welfare[1][3].
• Advice and Mediation: The ombudsman offices offer young people and their families independent advice and mediation in complaints and conflicts with the providers of child and youth welfare. The focus is on constructive conflict resolution and amicable remedy of complaints[2][3].
• Quality Development and Assurance: The BKO works on the further development and quality assurance of ombudsmanship in child and youth welfare and ensures quality in the states[1].

The main mission of the BKO is to advance, establish, and qualitatively secure ombudsmanship work in child and youth welfare. A special focus is on the implementation and strengthening of the rights of young people and their families, as well as on making their perspectives and interests visible. The work is oriented towards the best interests of the child and the material and procedural rights of young people and their legal guardians[1][3].

• Projects for Further Development: The BKO conducts various projects, such as the project "Balancing Power Asymmetries – Further Development of Ombudsmanship in Youth Welfare," which runs from 2023 to 2025 and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Another project was the "Establishment and Testing of a Federal Coordination Office for Ombudsmanship in Child and Youth Welfare" from 2019 to 2022, which was also funded by the BMFSFJ[1].