A central goal of the state government is to give children, young people and their families the best opportunities for the future, regardless of their background. With the "kinderstark - NRW schafft Chancen" (strong children - NRW creates opportunities) funding program, the state of NRW supports local authorities in better protecting children and young people from poverty and further increasing their chances of advancement through education. Socially disadvantaged families in particular are to be strengthened in their educational and participation opportunities.

All municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia will be given the opportunity to support measures that arise at interfaces such as youth welfare/school or health/youth welfare and did not previously fit into any funding structure.
To ensure that networking and the development of services are successful, "kinderstark" finances a local position that acts as a municipal coordinator, bringing all stakeholders together and coordinating the measures.

In addition, innovative and low-threshold measures can be funded locally, such as:

Family primary school centers, in which support structures are set up for families with children who attend open all-day elementary school. The aim is to strengthen parents as competent educational partners for their children and to enable primary school children to participate in education on an equal footing through the joint responsibility of parents and school.

Pilot services in maternity clinics, pediatric and adolescent medical practices or gynecological practices that refer families to suitable information, advice and support services.

Communal family offices that are available to families as low-threshold service, information and guidance centers

Outreach services, for example at family centers or daycare facilities, to improve access to families in stressful life situations such as poverty or new immigration and to support them. In this area of support, services such as daycare social work or family mentors are conceivable.

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia advises and supports the municipalities in implementing the program through the Institute for Social Work in Münster and the state youth welfare offices of Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe.
Further information can be found at www.kinderstark.nrw