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

If a child or young person has a mental disability or is at risk of one and their participation in society is restricted as a result, they can apply for integration assistance.

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 an

• 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, integration assistance can be applied for. 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:

• Benefits for medical rehabilitation
• Benefits for participation in working life
• Benefits for participation in education and
• Benefits for social participation

There are different forms of integration assistance, such as

• outpatient, i.e. outside of inpatient facilities, for example school support,
• Day 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)

The youth welfare office of your district or city.

Children and young people can receive integration assistance in the event of a mental or impending mental disability.

The prerequisite for this is that

• there is a high probability that their mental health will deviate from the typical state for their age for longer than 6 months and
• the child's or young person's participation in society is impaired as a result, or
• such an impairment is highly likely to occur.

In order to check the requirements, the youth welfare office will obtain an opinion from a medical or psychotherapeutic professional who specializes in children and adolescents in particular.

• In order to be entitled to integration assistance, the child or young person must be diagnosed with an existing or impending mental disability.
• An impending disability exists if it is highly probable that the child's mental health will deviate from the typical state for their age for more than six months and their participation in society is impaired or this impairment is to be expected.

In addition to mental disabilities, there are also physical and mental disabilities. Integration assistance may also be available for these. Other agencies may be responsible for this. Ask your youth welfare office which office is responsible for you or your child.