Apply for integration assistance for children and young people with mental disabilities or impending mental disabilities

Some children and young people are unable to participate in public life on an equal footing due to their mental disability. A mental disability can, for example, be a

• Anxiety disorder,
• Depression,
• Psychosis,
• Autism,
• ADHD or
• an eating disorder

be.

In order to support children and young people in leading a self-determined life, they can apply for integration assistance. This integration assistance is aimed at children and young people with a mental disability or the threat of a mental disability.

Young people aged 15 and over can submit an application themselves. Up to the age of 15, their legal representatives submit an application on their behalf.

Integration assistance is divided into 4 groups:

• Medical rehabilitation services
• Benefits for participation in working life
• Benefits for participation in education and
• Benefits for social participation

There are various forms of integration assistance, such as

• on an outpatient basis, i.e. outside of inpatient facilities, for example school support,
• Day-care facilities for children or other day-care facilities,
• Day and night facilities and other forms of accommodation,

Placement in full-time care (for suitable persons)

Children and young people of compulsory school age who suffer from a mental disorder may be entitled to integration assistance in accordance with Section 35a SGB III. The aim of integration assistance measures is to eliminate existing impairments to participation or to prevent imminent impairments to participation.

As the rehabilitation provider, the youth welfare office has a general duty to provide advice and provides advice on rights, obligations, benefits and the procedure and objectives of integration assistance. Once the application has been submitted, a responsibility check is carried out. Firstly, it must be established that the local youth welfare office is actually responsible. Secondly, physical and mental disabilities must be ruled out. This is followed by an examination of the eligibility requirements.

"Children and young people are entitled to integration assistance if their mental health is likely to deviate from the typical state for their age for more than six months and their participation in society is therefore impaired or such impairment is to be expected." § Section 35a para. 1 SGB VIII

Two conditions must therefore be met in order to receive integration assistance.

Firstly, a mental disorder (deviation of mental health) must have been diagnosed (e.g. ICD-10 F90.1 Hyperkinetic disorder of social behavior). Such a diagnosis can be carried out in a SPC (social pediatric center) or by a registered child and adolescent psychotherapist. A referral from the pediatrician is required in advance.

The second prerequisite for receiving integration assistance is the existence of an impairment of participation due to the mental disorder in one area of the child's/young person's life. If the impairment of participation is not present, but is highly likely to occur (threaten to occur), the second requirement is also deemed to be fulfilled. The youth welfare office carries out the participation assessment to determine whether there is/is a risk of participation impairment due to a mental disorder.

Independent advice can be obtained from the EUTB (Ergänzende unabhängige Teilhabeberatung) in Kleve.

• § Section 35a of Book Eight of the German Social Code (SGB VIII)

How does the application process work?

1. contact

Get in touch with the responsible specialist advisor (contact: Process controller Tina Weiand, Tel. 02832 122-619, tina.weiand@kevelaer.de)

2nd consultation

We will clarify this together in a personal meeting:

• Which requirements must be met for assistance within the framework of integration assistance
• Which documents are required
• Which support services are available
• Delivery of the application documents on request

3. application and examination

After receipt of the application, it will be checked for completeness and responsibility.

The documents are then sent to the specialist integration assistance service for an assessment of the mental disability. They then decide on the type and scope of assistance.

A consultation is non-binding and serves as orientation.