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Vienna fights for children: More crisis centers planned soon!
Vienna is planning new crisis centers for young children by 2026 to address child welfare threats and provide support.
Vienna fights for children: More crisis centers planned soon!
In November 2024, a toddler crisis center opened its doors in Favoriten, offering space for up to six children aged 3 to 6 years. This facility is part of a comprehensive plan by the City of Vienna to increase the number of similar centers to a total of six by 2026. The Vienna Child and Youth Welfare Department (MA 11) is hereby responding to the increasing threats to children's well-being, which have reached worrying levels in recent years.
In 2024, a total of 13,181 risk assessments were carried out in Vienna, of which 1,056 resulted in crisis accommodation. A clear picture of the challenges that exist in the area of child protection can also be seen in the first half of 2025: There were 484 placement cases, most of which were placed in crisis centers or crisis foster families. These measures aim to de-escalate family conflict situations and bring children to safety for a period of six to eight weeks.
Backgrounds and numbers
The main reasons for reports of danger in 2024 were predominantly neglect (53.9%), followed by physical violence (20.3%) and psychological violence (24.3%). Only a small number of reports came from legal guardians (2.9%). Rather, the reports are often made via schools (30.2%) and the police (24.4%). This underlines the importance of a vigilant environment around children.
In order to counteract this worrying trend, the city is actively looking for new foster parents, as there are currently only 31 crisis foster carers available in Vienna who act as important support. In addition, a preventive protection concept should not only sensitize employees in social-educational institutions, but also promote an open culture of child protection, as emphasized on the KWG-Info website.
Focus on children's well-being
The child protection centers work tirelessly to protect children and young people. Their goal is to grow up without violence, which promotes emotional bonds and self-confidence in young people. Specialists must be trained in this context, as the child protection centers emphasize. Current topics and further training courses round off the commitment to strengthen sensitivity and confidence in child protection work.
The 15th Child Protection Forum will take place in 2026, which will deal with the lives of young people and the role of child and youth welfare. The aim is to develop a common understanding of child protection and to act in the best interests of the child. The obligation to provide a non-violent upbringing and protection against neglect are fundamental rights of children and young people that must be protected.
In summary, it can be seen that committed efforts are being made in Vienna to secure the future of the youngest people in our society. The plans for additional crisis centers are a step in the right direction and will help support and protect children in emergencies.