Early aids
What is early help?
Early help includes all counseling, support and assistance services available to families from the beginning of pregnancy until the age of 3 (0 - 3 years) and serves to improve children's development opportunities.
Early help services include health promotion services such as U examinations at the pediatrician, courses for babies or breastfeeding groups, the baby visiting service as well as care and support services for children and parents.
Early help also includes services for families with minor and major problems, such as visiting and making use of advice centers, family support, support and development centers or the general social services of the city of Wolfsburg.
Overall, Wolfsburg offers a wide range of advice, support and assistance services for women and families during pregnancy or in the first years of a child's life.
The whole thing is bundled together in the Early Help Network, which also includes the municipal services listed below.
Good work in the field of early help requires different professionals who work hand in hand, know about each other, complement each other and learn from and with each other.
The three-minute short film by the National Center for Early Intervention (NZFH) clearly explains what early intervention is and how pregnant women and families in need of support can access the services.
In addition to parents, it is also aimed at professionals who support and advise mothers and fathers. The film and a search for early help services are available at the following link (source: NZFH/BZgA 2019).
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News
Early help newsletter
The "Frühe Hilfen" newsletter provides regular updates on current information from the field of early help.
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Early Help Network
The services for women and families during pregnancy and for children up to the age of 3 that are available in the city of Wolfsburg are bundled and networked in the Early Help Network. The aim of the network is to ensure that all early help services work well together, that services are available that are needed and that work well.
The Early Help Network is multi-professional, which means that different professional groups work together. Staff from pregnancy counseling, healthcare, early intervention, child and youth welfare, daycare centers and family centers, volunteers and other social services work together.
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Early help network meeting
The Early Help Network Meeting is an information format for early help professionals.
All network partners are invited to contribute their current information and to inform each other about innovations and exchange ideas.
Are there new colleagues or a new service? Are there any changes in the field of work or a great example of best practice?
The event is open and deliberately low-threshold. Registration is not required. Simply join in and listen or pass on information.
The event will take place once a month. Alternating mornings and afternoons.
Dates 2025:
Tuesday, 09.09.2025, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 08.10.2025, 15:00 to 16:00
Tuesday, 11.11.2025, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 10.12.2025, 15:00 to 16:00
The access link can be found in the file or can be requested by e-mail at fruehe-hilfen@stadt.wolfsburg,de
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Family support
The city of Wolfsburg supports families during pregnancy or after the birth of the baby by offering family support.
Family support is an important component of the Early Help Network. It is aimed at all expectant and new mothers and parents who would like support or need it for a variety of reasons. However, there is no need for a complex problem situation to be able to make use of family support.
The service is provided by pediatric nurses, nurses and midwives with individual further training. They advise, support and accompany families in their homes with a great deal of commitment and expertise when they have questions, uncertainties and worries about their baby and the associated life situation.
Specific topics include- Care, nursing and nutrition of your child
- Handling / dealing with your child
- Building a positive parent-child relationship
- Organization of everyday life / daily structure
- Promoting your child's development
- Restlessness, crying, sleep
- Premature birth or health restrictions in your child
- Psychological and health problems of one or both parents
- Multiple birth
- Single parent, minor with child
- Difficult and stressful life situation with a child
Family support is help for self-help. It is individually tailored to the needs of the family. The content and goals are developed and defined together.
The support can begin during pregnancy and usually ends around the child's first birthday. If required, family support can also be used beyond this point. Support is limited to 8.6 hours (12 hours in exceptional cases) per month, which corresponds to one contact per week.
It is not necessary to submit an application to make use of family support, only to contact us to coordinate the family support.
Family support is voluntary. The service is free of charge for mothers/parents. The costs of family support are covered by the city of Wolfsburg.
If you are interested or if you have any questions about the family support service, please do not hesitate to contact the family support coordinator.
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Contact
Nicolle Langer
Coordination Family Support
Braunschweiger Street 12
38440 Wolfsburg
Mobile: 0151 - 72 10 93 87
E-mail: nicolle.langer@stadt.wolfsburg.de
Family counselors
Cindy Christiansen
Pediatric nurseHeidemarie Geffers
Pediatric nurse
Anne Landmann
Nurse, qualification as a family, health and pediatric nurse
Ina Metheit
Pediatric nurse
Sylvia Reiter
Nurse, qualification as a family, health and pediatric nurse
Gabriele Schiefelbein
Pediatric nurse
Ulrike Griese
Midwife, qualification as a family midwife
Carola Jäger
Midwife, qualification as a family midwife
Stefanie Leitzke
Qualification as a family health and pediatric nurseBritta Burgdorf
Qualification of a family health and pediatric nurse
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Baby Visiting Service
Families living in Wolfsburg who have a baby are contacted by the Baby Visiting Service within the first 8 to 12 weeks of the child's life to offer them a counseling service.
The Baby Visiting Service welcomes the newborn to Wolfsburg and informs parents about existing services for families in the city.
Families receive- Information about the baby's first year of life.
- Information on counseling and support services as well as relief options.
- Information about kindergartens, day nurseries, child minders.
- Information about leisure activities, exchange with like-minded people and much more.
- ... a small welcome gift for your child.
The offer is voluntary and free of charge. Families decide for themselves whether they want a baby visit at their home.
Due to the current incidence of infections, care is taken to protect each other's health through appropriate hygiene and protective measures. The appointment can also take place on the premises of the baby visit service, by telephone or by video conference.-
Contact
Rosemarie Springer
Phone: 0151 72 60 59 63
E-Mail: rosemarie.springer@stadt.wolfsburg.de
Jasmin MeyerPhone: 0170 6958974
E-Mail: jasmin.meyer2@stadt.wolfsburg.de
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Wolles Info Café
WOLLES INFO CAFÉ offers pregnant women and new parents many answers to questions about pregnancy and the new life situation with the baby as well as the opportunity to exchange ideas and make contacts.
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Parenting School
The Parents' School at the Wolfsburg City Hospital is part of the Youth Division and a cooperation partner of the Adult Education Center.
The staff are the contact persons for questions relating to birth preparation and the first year of life with the baby. This includes style advice, open breastfeeding groups, breastfeeding preparation, Baby ABC, birth preparation courses, midwife consultations and postnatal courses.-
Courses offered by the Parents' School:
Courses offered on the website of the adult education center in the Bildungshaus Wolfsburg (vhs-wolfsburg.de)
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The services of the midwife outpatient clinic:
The midwives provide outpatient midwifery care at the clinic, which includes preventive and follow-up care during pregnancy as well as pregnancy counseling.
The service is aimed at all women/families who are not yet accompanied by a midwife.
Interested parties can contact the Parents' School to make an appointment.
- Advice on questions during pregnancy
- Postpartum counseling for women who have not found a midwife for home care
- Pre-natal acupuncture and acupuncture for complaints
- Taping
- Registration for birth in the delivery room
- Instructions for breast milk collection during pregnancy for women with diabetes during pregnancy
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The services of the breastfeeding consultants:
- Style consultation on the maternity ward and in the pediatric clinic
- Outpatient style advice (appointments after discharge from hospital)
- Breastfeeding advice for acute breastfeeding difficulties
- Advice on natural weaning if you wish to wean
- Advice on difficulties with the introduction of complementary foods
- Laser therapy
- Breastfeeding hotline
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Contact
Parents' school: 05361 - 80 1055
Breastfeeding advice: 05361 - 80 3839
Breastfeeding hotline: 0160 - 22 28 72 3 (Mon. - Fri. 07:00 - 14:00)E-mail: elternschule@klinikum.wolfsburg.de
Team:
Sylvia Meier (midwife)
Katja Kolbig (pediatric nurse, lactation consultant, IBCLC)
Birgit Grimm (nurse, breastfeeding counselor)
Esther Herterich (midwife, head of the breastfeeding group)
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Courses offered by the Parents' School:
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Links and information material
Letters for parents
The letters for parents contain a variety of useful assistance and practical tips for mothers and fathers in the first years of their child's life. Some of the offers are free of charge, others are subject to a charge. Under the link you have access to all letters for parents according to the age of your child. Further information can be found on the individual websites.
If you have any questions about the letters for parents, please contact Ms. Britta Kempf by phone or e-mail Britta.kempf@stadt.wolfsburg.de, 05361 - 28 2609
Helpline for pregnant women in need
Pregnant and the world is upside down?
No matter what questions or fears you have: you will receive help. Anonymously and safely. Experienced advisors are there for you around the clock on the helpline. Free of charge, barrier-free, multilingual. You can also find out more about help services in your area here.
Help hotline "Pregnant women in need": 0800 40 40 020
Information on sexual and reproductive health in 13 languages
Zanzu provides simple and clear information on sexual and reproductive health in 13 languages (written and spoken) and thus facilitates communication on these topics, e.g. in the context of counseling.
Wolfsburg family portal
The Wolfsburg family portal guides people with children through the various topics in the city of Wolfsburg relating to family, housing, pregnancy and birth, childcare, education and partnership, compatibility of family and career, migration, health, culture, sport, leisure, advice and support services.
Wolfsburg family blog
The Wolfsburg family blog offers up-to-date information for families in Wolfsburg.
This includes questions about the financial situation of families, advice services and assistance in problem situations. The blog also provides information about the current situation in daycare centers and schools around the Corona pandemic and provides links for everyday family life.
Family portal of the Federal Government
The family portal of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth provides information and calculators on state family benefits and the different life situations of families.
Counseling services for parents
The internet portal of the Nationales Zentrum Frühe Hilfen (NZFH) provides information about help and advice for pregnant women and parents with children up to the age of 3. Families can find information on early help, advice services and baby cries here.
Materials for addressing parents
The National Center for Early Intervention (NZFH) offers the federal states and local authorities a comprehensive package of measures with materials to address parents and support local public relations work.
The materials inform parents about the "Nummer gegen Kummer" parents' hotline and the online advice service of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e.V. (Federal Conference for Educational Counseling) as access points to regional early help services. These actors provide initial advice and can refer families with a need directly to the appropriate regional services.
The materials help to address parents directly, raise awareness of early help services and deepen or further expand networking.
The materials are available in large quantities in Wolfsburg.
Contact
Birte Neitzel
E-mail: birte.neitzel@stadt.wolfsburg.de
Together with the "Alliance against Shaking Trauma", the National Center for Early Intervention, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, provides information about the dangers of shaking babies and toddlers.
The materials provide parents (and professionals) with specific information on how to act in an overload situation.
The parents' hotline of Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. (0800 - 111 0 550) and the online advice service can provide information, advice and help directly in Wolfsburg.
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Federal Foundation for Early Assistance
The Federal Early Help Foundation provides long-term funding for early help networks and ensures support for families with infants and young children. It thus continues the successful work of the Federal Early Help Initiative.
All children have the right to grow up healthy and free of violence. The first months and years of life are also of outstanding importance for the entire further development of the child. Therefore, it is especially important to support (expectant) parents during this time.To achieve this goal, the legislature has stipulated in Section 3 (4) of the Child Protection Cooperation and Information Act (KKG) that the federal government establish a permanent fund to ensure early help networks and psychosocial support for families. The fund will be implemented by means of the Federal Early Help Foundation. The administrative agreement has been signed by the federal and state governments. Legal principles are governed by the statutes.
Since January 1, 2018, the Bundesstiftung Frühe Hilfen has ensured that the structures and services that were established through the federal initiative and have proven their worth can continue to exist. In particular, psychosocial support services for families with children up to the age of three are to be further expanded. Details on the implementation of the Early Help Fund are described in the administrative agreement and the performance guidelines.
The Federal Foundation is guided by the Early Intervention Guidelines developed by the National Center for Early Intervention (NZFH) and its advisory board. According to this, early help builds on resources and creates low-threshold access for families under psychosocial stress.
The quality criteria and scientific findings developed by the federal government, federal states and local authorities as part of the Federal Initiative for Early Intervention (Bundesinitiative Frühe Hilfen), in particular through the NZFH's accompanying research, also form the basis for quality development and innovation at the Federal Foundation for Early Intervention.
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Contact
City of Wolfsburg
Youth Division, Counseling Department
Coordination of early help
Birte Neitzel
Braunschweiger Street 12
38440 WolfsburgPhone: 0151 54 64 81 07
E-mail: birte.neitzel@stadt.wolfsburg.de