In June 2015, the family support centre was opened in the former Pestallozi primary school in Bexbach. It was the first facility of its kind in Saarland to bring together various services from different organisations under one roof: the Workers' Welfare Association (AWO) with a crèche, the town of Bexbach with youth welfare services and the Saarpfalz district with outpatient and early help services. The aim was to create an open centre with low-threshold access that was centrally located and easily accessible for families and children. AWO Director Peter Barrois, Mayor Thomas Leis, Councillor Wolfgang Imbsweiler, District Administrator Clemens Lindemann and Head of the Youth Welfare Office Klaus Ruffing were responsible at the time.
The tenth anniversary was a good reason for everyone at the centre to invite everyone to a colourful party. There were games, a dance workshop for children and adults, a magician with mysticism to amaze, demonstrations by the AWO after-school care centre and an exhibition on the development of the counselling services.
Dance performance by fourth-graders from the AWO day nursery in Bexbach
"The fact that this festival is a success and that the centre is so well attended every day is not just a coincidence, but ultimately the result of each individual and the strong cohesion of all the network partners involved," said Cornelia Kazakob-Marsollek, Head of the Youth Welfare Office of the Saarpfalz district.
Many people accepted the invitation: Parents, children with guardians, young people - including the family that was the first to receive counselling -, AWO regional managing director Jürgen Nieser, mayor Christian Prech, district administrator Frank John, district councillor Kerstin Hiller, deputy local head Paul Gallo, pastoral advisor Gregor Müller and the "founding fathers" Imbsweiler, Leis and Ruffing.
District Administrator Frank John, who has always followed the development of the family support centre during his term of office as mayor, thanked all sponsors, providers, cooperation partners and families:
"With this centrally located building, we have succeeded for the first time in establishing cooperation with three providers in one advice centre. This enables us to offer low-threshold help for all families in Bexbach. People must be able to come to us. Ultimately, the successful concept was the decisive factor in establishing a similar family support centre in St. Ingbert."
Jürgen Nieser addressed the guests in his speech: "The roots of our work go back a long way: an innovative foundation stone was laid back in 1996 with the cooperation agreement between the Saarpfalz district and the AWO - a model that still sets standards today," said Jürgen Nieser. "Since its opening ten years ago, the centre has developed into a lively place of encounter, support and education. As a cooperation project, it is a prime example of successful collaboration in the interests of families and, above all, for the development of our children. 'Networked and cooperative' is the philosophy behind the work here at the family support centre."
Mayor Christian Prech emphasised the importance of the facility in his speech: "The family support centre has been an important anchor point for families in our city for ten years now. It not only offers support and counselling, but also a place to meet and exchange ideas. I would like to thank all employees and the partners involved, who are highly committed to ensuring that families here in Bexbach are strengthened."
The wide range of counselling and support services at the family support centre are needs-oriented. There is a close connection between the family support centre, youth welfare services and the health department as part of early help. The centre also offers an open language course for migrants. The care support centre and other institutions offer consultation hours. With its open meetings on the second Wednesday of every month, the family support centre offers a parent-child group where families and professionals can meet and socialise in a relaxed atmosphere.