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A renewed cooperation agreement aims to improve services for young people in the Groß-Gerau district
The youth welfare offices of the Groß-Gerau district and the city of Rüsselsheim am Main, along with the Vitos Children's and Adolescent Clinic for Mental Health in Riedstadt, have officially renewed their long-standing collaboration. On Wednesday, May 28, 2025 , representatives of the participating institutions signed the updated cooperation agreement at the Groß-Gerau district administration offices. Among those present were District Administrator Thomas Will and Rüsselsheim's Mayor Murat Karakaya , both of whom emphasized the importance of closer networking.
Shared responsibility for families under stress
The first procedural agreement between the Groß-Gerau district youth welfare office and the clinic in Riedstadt was concluded as early as 2005. Since 2011, the Rüsselsheim municipal youth welfare office has also been an official partner. The aim of the cooperation is to provide the best possible care for children and young people with mental health challenges – especially in light of increasing challenges in youth welfare and child and adolescent psychiatry.
“Families today face enormous challenges,” emphasizes Juliane Hantzsche , head of the Rüsselsheim Youth Welfare Office. The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, wars like the one in Ukraine, and economic uncertainties have significantly increased the need for support. The demand for psychotherapeutic help is growing steadily. The renewed agreement is intended to ensure that affected families “are not left alone.”
Closer coordination and greater synergy effects
The cooperation partners rely on regular exchange , joint training, and transparent and more efficient processes. Christine Plenzig , head of the district youth welfare office, also emphasizes the advantages: "We want to remove obstacles for families and ensure seamless support."
A key objective of the agreement is to optimize collaboration across system boundaries – for example, between the clinic, youth welfare services, and other social services. This aims to ensure quick and unbureaucratic access to support services. "Close cooperation between youth welfare offices and psychiatric facilities is crucial," add clinic directors Dr. Annette Duve and Thilo Ast of Vitos. Only in this way can gaps in services be effectively closed.
Future-proof through interdisciplinary collaboration
In light of the increasing shortage of skilled workers and limited resources, the collaboration should be placed on a solid, long-term foundation. The autonomy of the participating institutions preserved. The aim is to combine existing services as effectively as possible and to meet the individual needs of children and young people.
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSGG)
Featured image: Thilo Ast (Vitos, Clinic Director), District Administrator Thomas Will, Mayor Murat Karakaya, and Christine Plenzig (Head of the Youth and Family Department) met in the District Administrator's office on May 28th to sign the cooperation agreement (from left). Photo: District Administration
