Custodians are entitled to help with the upbringing of a child or young person if the child's or young person's welfare cannot be guaranteed and the help is suitable and necessary for their development.

The type and scope of the help is based on the educational needs of the individual case, taking into account the child's or young person's immediate social environment.

The help ultimately to be provided is determined in a so-called help plan procedure, in which at least the legal guardians, the child or young person and the locally responsible youth welfare office are involved.

One option here is residential care in a home or residential care in another form of assisted living.

This includes a variety of forms of care: Children's and youth homes, youth residential groups, family-analogous or family-integrative forms of living, supervised individual living, weekly groups, intensive groups, project placements in Germany and abroad, shared forms of living for mothers/fathers and children, care centers, etc.

In principle, SGB VIII aims to educate young people to become independent and socially competent individuals.

Residential education is intended to promote the development of children and young people by combining everyday life with educational and therapeutic activities. Depending on the age and stage of development of the young person and the possibilities for improving the upbringing conditions in the family of origin, the law provides 3 options:

1. attempt to return to the family
2. prepare for upbringing in another family
3. to offer a long-term living arrangement and prepare for an independent life

Young people should also be advised and supported in matters of education and employment as well as general living arrangements.

The educational goals in detail are reserved for the above-mentioned assistance plan procedure.

Young adults should be given help to develop their personality and to lead an independent life if and for as long as the help is necessary due to the young person's individual situation. As a rule, assistance is only granted until the young person reaches the age of 21.

This may also include home education or education in another form of assisted living.