The upbringing and care of a child is primarily the responsibility of the parents. Sometimes, however, additional help from the state may be necessary in raising the child.

Although the help is granted to the parents, it is geared towards the interests of the child or young person. This means that the child or young person must be involved in the decisions that affect them. The services offered include educational counseling, social group work, educational support, care assistants, socio-pedagogical family support, education in a day group, full-time care, residential care and other forms of supervised living or intensive socio-pedagogical individual care. In addition, the youth welfare office decides on the granting of integration assistance and assistance for young adults and shared living arrangements for mothers/fathers and children.