Episode 30: Quiet voices, loud consequences - What happens when social work goes?

When cuts are made, it often affects those with the weakest lobby.

Social work, especially school social work as part of the youth welfare landscape in Saxony, is essential for children and young people to grow up successfully. It makes a decisive contribution to supporting children and young people directly at school, where they learn and live, in a phase of their lives that is characterized by emotional, social and academic challenges. But what happens if this support is cut or even discontinued?

The consequences of such cuts are diverse and far-reaching. Teenagers are under enormous pressure: exam nerves, conflicts with parents, teachers or classmates, bullying, the search for belonging, social insecurities or even the start of problematic behavior patterns such as drug use. Such challenges require professional support - and this is precisely where school social work comes in.

Trust that takes years - and is lost in seconds
A functioning school social work system is based on a long-term relationship of trust between social workers and pupils. This trust is often the key to reaching young people and offering them a perspective in difficult moments. However, this fragile balance is at risk: cuts and savings are destroying established structures and making it difficult to build such relationships in the long term.

Social and intergenerational effects
The social consequences of the withdrawal of school social work are difficult to foresee, but they extend far beyond everyday school life. Social inequalities could deepen, conflicts could intensify and opportunities for education and integration could be reduced. These developments could shape entire generations and significantly exacerbate the social challenges facing our society.

A dialog for the future
As part of our podcast "Quiet voices, loud consequences", we want to give these topics space and create a platform for exchange. The aim is not only to shed light on the current challenges and the importance of school social work, but also to discuss long-term perspectives.

We are planning to record the event at a public venue in order to make the topic accessible to a wider audience. Dialogue is an integral part of the event: We not only want experts and those affected to have their say, but also to involve the public and give parents in particular the opportunity to contribute their perspectives and questions.

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Here are a few impressions of our event.

Our Advisors:

• Tobias Gaub - Deputy Managing Director of the Saxony State Association of Socioculture
• Wieland Köhler - school social worker at Bürgerwiese grammar school
• Amy Kirchhoff - State board member of the Saxony State Student Council
• Anke Voigt - Head of Clinic Social Services at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Dresden University Hospital
• Constanze Berndt - Professor of Social Work and Schools at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Dresden

Moderation:

• Dominique Schwarze - SHK at the Learning Workshop of the Chair of Health and Nursing / Vocational Didactics, TU Dresden

Photo reference

Photographs and videos will be taken during this event. The photos will be used for the press and public relations work of the TUD and the other participants. If necessary, photos will also be passed on to third parties for reporting purposes. By participating in the event, you agree that photos of you may be used for publications in print and online media, including social media.

This project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State governments.