Waldheim: City rejects liability for the insolvency of the child protection association

Waldheim: City rejects liability for the insolvency of the child protection association

A sensitive financial issue is causing discussions in Waldheim. The city is responsible for paying a sum of 366,000 euros to the child protection association's additional pension fund (ZVK). This demand relates to company pension obligations for former employees of the “Schulbergstrolche” after-school care center. The situation comes to a head after the municipal supervisory authority of the Central Saxony district confirmed the city's legal opinion and recommended refusing to accept liability. According to the Saxon municipal code, municipalities are prohibited from taking on obligations that do not serve to fulfill their own tasks, which puts the city in a quandary. Mayor Steffen Ernst supports the legal supervisory authority's clear stance, but also sees the need to emphasize one's own responsibility.

The Child Protection Association itself has experienced a dramatic turnaround in recent months. After the after-school care center was handed over to the Arbeiterwohlfahrt at the end of last year, the association is now on the verge of insolvency. The Döbeln child protection association, which is also affected, has laid off its employees and temporarily closed its important playhouse. Insolvency proceedings have been opened over the club's assets and there is uncertainty about the 54,000 euros in operating costs listed for the after-school care center in 2022. The city has lost a significant amount of money that is unlikely to be recovered, adding to the strain on the situation. Donations that are received into the association account flow into the insolvency estate, which further affects the care of the children in need.

Legal framework and consequences

The situation also raises some legal questions. Another aspect is that liability for the Child Protection Association not only has local significance, but also points to the general framework for child protection in Germany. Loud Destatis The statistics list various types of child endangerment that are particularly relevant in the context of such organizational crises. Child endangerment is a serious issue that is reflected not only in financial issues but also in the quality of care.

In Germany there are four types of child endangerment: neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse and sexual violence. Especially in times when care facilities are under pressure, it is important to keep a close eye on the child's well-being. The acute and latent threats to children's well-being listed in the statistics should also encourage all those responsible to take action. Conversely, the current situation of the Child Protection Association shows how quickly the framework conditions can develop to the detriment of children if the associated institutions are no longer stable.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop for the city of Waldheim and the child protection association. What is clear, however, is that both legal and social factors are closely linked and the city must take a clear and forward-looking course in this matter to ensure the well-being of the children.