Socio-educational family support is an educational aid to which legal guardians are entitled if the child's welfare cannot be guaranteed and the help is suitable and necessary for the child's development. It is intended to support families in their parenting tasks, in coping with everyday problems, resolving conflicts and crises as well as in contact with authorities and institutions through intensive care and support and to help them to help themselves.

Socio-educational family support takes place directly in the family and in their home. The entire family is the target group. The family receives support in everyday matters and in the form of educational work on problem situations. To this end, a socio-educational specialist regularly visits the family for several hours a week. The help is tailored to the family's specific everyday life and needs. It relates to educational issues, support in school matters, for example, as well as all other problems and challenges of the family or its members, e.g. housing situation and finances, daily and weekly structure, illnesses, relationships between family members and in the social environment.

Socio-educational family support is particularly supportive for single parents who are under a great deal of strain in coping with everyday family life, as well as families in crisis situations, conflict situations and for families with everyday problems. The support is designed to help people help themselves.
Individual goals are worked out with the family based on the family members' respective resources and abilities. Goals can be

- Restoring and strengthening parenting skills
- Ensuring the best interests of the child
- Uncovering the strengths and abilities of individual family members
- Support in coping with everyday life
- Strengthening self-esteem
- Strengthening the ability to deal with conflict
- Support in coping with crises
- Improving relationships with each other and within the social structure