English

About Us

Hello and glad you found us!

We are the Ombudsstelle Kinder- und Jugendhilfe RLP e.V. Our job is to inform you about your rights and support you if the Jugendamt or your Wohngruppe doesn’t respect them. Our advice is independent, supportive and free.

We have volunteer and professional Ombudspersons. We are either care leavers, social workers, educators, psychologists or university researchers with experience in child and youth services.
Our board consists of:

Franziska Markelj
Dennis Volo
Dr. Ulla Peters

When you contact us you usually speak to Jakob Tavernier or Franziska Markelj first. They work full-time for the Ombudsstelle and are often the first to hear your concern. Later another team member might handle your case.

Ombudsstelle Kinder- und Jugendhilfe RLP e. V.

You can reach us by email, phone or messaging services. If you call outside office hours you will reach our answering machine and we will call you back as soon as possible. We can address your concern by email, phone or video call and we can also meet in person if you prefer. When you contact us you usually speak to Jakob Tavernier or Franziska Markelj first. They work full-time for the Ombudsstelle and are often the first to hear your concern. Later another team member might handle your case.

Rights for all Young People in Youth Services:

You have the right to complain and seek advice without anyone finding out.
You have the right to be involved in decisions that affect your life.
You have the right to express your wishes and ideas.

We help you enforce your rights by:

Informing you about your rights.
Giving advice and discussing solutions.
Accompanying you to meetings or helping you submit applications and appeals.

Our help is:

Independent: The Jugendamt or your Wohngruppe does not pay us and we do not work for them.
Supportive: We believe you and support your concerns.
Anonymous: If you want you don’t have to tell us your name or where you live.
Free: We don’t charge you any money.
Tailored to you: We listen to your concerns and discuss them as a team. We then suggest what we can do. You decide if it works for you and we won’t talk to anyone about it unless you want us to.

What Happens When You Contact Us:

You Reach Out: You can write or call us. We listen to your concern and figure out what’s going on together.
We Clarify What’s Happened: Have you talked to anyone who can help or already submitted an application?
We Develop a Solution: We discuss with you and as a team what has happened, what you want and what we can do. You decide and we support you!