The number of people being taken into care in Saxony is increasing dramatically - parents are often overwhelmed!

The number of people being taken into care in Saxony is increasing dramatically - parents are often overwhelmed!

The number of children and young people taken into care in Saxony has experienced a significant increase. According to that Sächsischen.de A total of 3,281 temporary protective measures were taken in 2024, which means an increase of 250 compared to the previous year. Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are particularly affected; they take the sad lead with 34% of all admissions. In more than half of the cases, the taking into care was directly related to an urgent danger, primarily due to the parents being overwhelmed.

A closer look at the data of the Child Protection Association Saxony shows that not only local children are affected, but also many foreign children. There were 458 detentions of unaccompanied minors who entered Germany. This also raises the question of how society reacts to these developments and what support systems are necessary to protect children and young people in crisis situations.

Reasons for taking into care

The most common reasons for the intervention are excessive demands on parents (25%), neglect (12%) and physical abuse (11%). These alarming numbers are in a context that can also be observed nationwide. Across Germany, around 69,500 children and young people were taken into care in 2024, which corresponds to a decrease of 5,100 cases compared to the previous year. However, this decline is largely due to the falling number of unaccompanied entries, which have fallen by 22%, while at the same time the number of people taken into care due to urgent child welfare risks has increased by 10% Destatis reported.

The average duration of a protective measure is now 62 days, an increase of 12 days compared to the previous year. This shows the complexity of the cases, which often require intensive support and long-term solutions. According to child and youth welfare law, youth welfare offices are obliged to carry out preliminary measures to protect children and young people in acute crises. It is important that the return to a stable environment is realized as quickly as possible - 24% of the minors returned to their previous place of residence after being taken into care.

Protection and support

The developments also raise the question of support for affected families. Important emphasis is needed in prevention so that the family system is not further burdened. The Child Protection Association is committed to a barrier-free society in Saxony so that people with special needs can also receive the support they need. Your plans to improve accessibility, especially in the digital space, are a step in the right direction in order to meet the various needs of society.

In summary, it shows that the protection of children and young people must be the top priority more than ever. Whether it happens through increased support offers for parents or through comprehensive prevention concepts - the fact is that something is happening and a good hand is needed to secure the future of the next generation.