Under pressure from the "Krone"

Politicians react to reports about children in care

The "Krone" newspaper has reported on the fate of children in institutions who are released from state care at the age of 18 and left to fend for themselves. Politicians are now responding to this problem: the SPÖ, ÖVP and Greens have decided in the Social Affairs Committee that the need for continued care after reaching the age of majority will be assessed. 

"All too often I hear that children who are dependent on help are thrown out on the street on their 18th birthday. We want to investigate where urgent improvements are still needed. No one should automatically have their safety net torn apart at the age of 18," says Green MP Barbara Neßler to the "Krone". 

Young adults need help
Around 13,000 children and young people in Austria are not growing up at home. During the transition from care in child and youth services to independence, affected young adults, known as care leavers, often encounter problems: they need support to become independent.

Some young people apply for continued care after the age of 18, which can be granted voluntarily by the federal states. Since the changes to child and youth welfare, which were decided in 2018, there have been different guidelines in the various federal states as to how long or for how long such continuation should be granted.

According to the three-party motion, a study commissioned by the federal government should now accurately record the data relating to the situation, create an overview of the life and problem situations of care leavers and provide a basis for taking a closer look at the problems faced by care leavers and seeking solutions.