You can find a flyer containing information on advice and help for families in Hamburg in German, English, Farsi/Dari, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Polnish and French here: https://www.hamburg.de/contentblob/3055314/4c0c0242eeb72eb7f4af5e53cef49fd0/data/beratung-familien-mehrsprachig.pdf.

Children under 6 years: day care

In Germany, children who are not yet in school receive childcare in daycare centres (Kindertageseinrichtungen; Kitas) and from childcare providers (Kindertagespflege). At the daycare centre (Kita) or while childcare providers are looking after them (Kindertagespflege), children can play and learn German.

Daycare centre (Kita)

In the Ankunftszentrum (arrival centre), there is no childcare. When you move into another initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung), childcare in the initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung) or in a daycare centre (Kita) will be offered for children who are at least 1 year old.

All children who are no longer living in an initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung) and are at least 1 year old have a legal right to a place in a day care centre (Kita).

The place is free and comprises 5 hours of childcare a day (including lunch). The care period can be extended to up to 12 hours per day if the parents are working, participating in further education or training, taking part in a German course for migrants or an integration course. It is possible that you have to pay a small sum for the extended care period.

If you are living in an initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung) or a secondary accommodation (Folgeunterkunft) and are looking for a place in a daycare centre (Kita), please ask the Sozialmanagement (social management) of your accommodation for help. You can find information in simple German as well as several languages (Turkish, Polish, Russian, English, French, Arabic and Farsi/Dari) about the benefits of a daycare centre (Kita), there: https://www.hamburg.de/kitaplatz/.

In any case, your child’s stay at the day care centre is only free if you have a voucher for daycare centres (Kita-Gutschein). You can apply for such a voucher (Kita-Gutschein) here: www.hamburg.de/antraege/#anker_2.

Even if you are not staying in a public accommodation and do not have any residence documents, your child can visit a daycare centre (Kita). The legal residence status of you and your children will be treated confidentially by all parties involved.

The Clearingstelle in the Flüchtlingszentrum helps finding a place in a daycare centre for children aged 1 – 6.  Adenauerallee 10, please make an appointment: +49 40 284079133, ayasse@fz-hh.de. Your child will then be looked after for 5 hours a day and receive lunch.

In Hamburg there are various bilingual daycare centers (kitas) where the children speak Russian as well as German. One of them is the Kita Lüttkamp: Lüttkamp 35, +49 40 46638394 https://kitaluettkamp-in-hamburg.de/konzept.html . The information on the website is also available in German and Russian. If you would like to have your child looked after at Kita Lüttkamp, you can apply for a Kita voucher (Kita voucher) just like for all German daycare centers (Kitas). Then your child’s daycare place is reduced or free.

Other German-Russian-speaking daycare centers (daycare centers):

Day care (Kindertagespflege; supervision by trained childminders)

Additionally, to the care provided by a daycare centre (Kita) it is also possible to consider day care (Kindertagespflege).

It is particularly popular among parents of children under the age of 3 because of the family atmosphere. You can choose the childminder. Each childminder can look after up to 5 different children simultaneously.

From the child’s first birthday until they start school, childcare is free for up to 25 hours per week. If you work, do training or attend a German course, your child can even be cared for free of charge for 25 hours per week from birth until the age of 14. Care for longer hours is also possible. However, this support may be subject to a fee.

You can get advice here: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/hamburg/11267302/, (search term: “Kinderpflegebörse”) then type your address.

The Verein Hamburger Tagesmütter und -väter gives advice as well and helps to find places at daycare centres: info@tagesmuetter-hamburg.de, +49 40 2003377.

If you need help finding suitable day care for your child, you can get support from Diakonie Hamburg’s migration advice center: Königstraße 54. The advice is confidential and free of charge and can be provided in various languages, including German, English, Russian and Farsi. Make an appointment: mbe@diakonie-hamburg.de, +49 40 30 62 03 12 (Tuesday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Thursday 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.).

Parent-Child-Centres

Parent-Child-Centres (Eltern-Kind-Zentren) are meeting places for families with children under the age of three. You may also visit these centres with older children who are not yet attending school.

You can use the help on offer without complications, registration or a voucher for a daycare centre (Kita-Gutschein) as well as receiving advice on educational matters. No additional fees will be charged other than for lunch (cost contribution of 2 € per serving).

Parent-Child-Centres provide, among other things:

  • an inclusive parent-child-club,
  • play and learning sessions for children,
  • parent-child courses and offers, for example exercise and musical offers,
  • Parental education, information and guidance.

You can find locations and further information here: www.hamburg.de/eltern-kind-zentren/.

Due to the corona pandemic, you may need to follow special rules within the centres. For example, it could be necessary to make an appointment. Please call beforehand and ask about this.

The family planning center (Familienplanungszentrum) in Hamburg Altona advises you on various topics: for example, conflicts and crises during pregnancy and parental leave, financial issues during pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception. You can get advice at the family planning center regardless of your residence status. The consultations are confidential. The consultations are free for young people. Adults have to pay a small fee for a consultation. The consultation can sometimes be free if you are unable to pay the amount. Talk to your employees about this. Address: At Johanniskirche 20. Make an appointment in advance: +49 40 4392822. Further information in German and English can be found at: https://www.familienplanungszentrum.de .

There are special offers for parents and children from Ukraine to exchange ideas with other refugees. The Parent-Child Center (Parent-Child Center) Lurup offers a Ukrainian mothers’ group (Monday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) and a group for Ukrainian children (Thursday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.): Netzestraße 14a, + 49 40 8400970. Both offers are free and no prior registration is required. Further information about the Ukrainian mothers group can be found here: https://hamburg-aktiv.info/k1002940342?force=346 . For further information about the children’s group, please click here: https://hamburg-aktiv.info/k1002940352?force=346 .

Language courses with childcare
There are language support offers with childcare for refugees from Ukraine in Bergedorf: Edith-Stein-Platz 1, Monday and Friday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The offer is supported on a voluntary basis by a Ukrainian woman who supports the offer as a language mediator. You don’t need to register. Further information about language support offers can be found here: fluechtlingsprojekte-in-bergedorf.html .

Disabilities and medical check-ups

If your child has a disability or is in danger of becoming disabled, it might need special assistance and support. Then, your child for example has the right to medical care and can visit a daycare centre (Kita) that is tailored to children with a disability and ensures their inclusion and support.

You should go the medical check-ups (Vorsorgeuntersuchungen) with your child. There are 10 important check-ups that your child should do at different dates until it is 6 years old. For this, you can contact your Kinderarzt (paediatrician) shortly after the birth of your child. You can find a doctor here: www.kvhh.net/de/physicianfinder.html. With the check-ups, it is possible to detect and treat health issues early on. When searching for a doctor, you have the opportunity to choose which languages you can speak, so you can find a doctor’s office where your native language is spoken.

There are various institutions that offer advice and support:

Children over the age of 6: school

Every child in Germany has the right to education and is obliged to attend school. This also applies to children of refugees and children without documentation. School registration only requires an address in Hamburg. Attendance at school is free of charge.

You can find help with the school registration process and enrolment here:

  • Schulinformationszentrum (school information centre) for children from 6 to 16 years old.
    Hamburger Straße 125a,, please make an appointment: zuschulung@bsb.hamburg.de, +49 40 428992211 (Wednesday and Thursday: 10 am – 12 pm (noon), Tuesday: 2 pm – 4 pm), https://www.hamburg.de/bsb/siz/.
  • Informationszentrum des Hamburger Instituts für Berufliche Bildung (Hamburg Institute for Vocational Training Information Centre; for young people aged 16 and over. Hamburger Straße 125a, please make an appointment: informationszentrum@hibb.hamburg.de, + 49 40 428634236 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 am – 1 pm, Thursday 10 am – 6 pm), https://hibb.hamburg.de/englisch/,

Make an appointment at the Schulinformationszentrum and visit there together with your child to enrol your child in school. The school system comprises two parts; first, 4 years of primary school (Grundschule) followed by a secondary school (Stadtteilschule or Gymnasium). The Abitur (final secondary school examinations in Germany, required for entry to university) can be obtained both at a Stadtteilschule and a Gymnasium.

The children attend preparatory courses and learning groups to prepare for lessons at German schools.

If you are living in an initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung), your children might attend school within the accommodation.

You can find more information on the topic of education here: https://we-inform.de/portal/en/education/.

It is possible to receive a lump sum in the amount of 150 € per school year to buy school supplies for your child. Ask at your competent Jobcenter (Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg, job centre) or Grundsicherungsamt (Fachamt für Grundsicherung und Soziales, Office for needs-based pension supplement in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity and for social affairs) about this:

Jobcenter: www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/ (search term: „Arbeitslosengeld II, für Personen über 25 Jahre“, then type your address, or „Arbeitslosengeld II, für Personen unter 25 Jahre“), then type your address.

Grundsicherungsamt: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/hamburg/11253346/ (search term: “Sozialhilfe, Leistungen für Asylbewerber” or “Sozialhilfe, Grundsicherung im Alter und bei dauerhafter Erwerbsminderung”), then type your address and then your last name.

You can also receive financial support to pay for additional tutors, lunch, bus and train tickets for your child. Ask about this at your child’s school.

Zeit für Zukunft – Mentoren für Kinder (time for future – mentors for children) finds mentors for children between 6 and 16 to help them developing their potential at school and generally in life. Boys get a male mentor, girls get a female mentor. The child and the mentor meet 2-4 times a month. You child should speak some German or English.

Mitmachen@zeitfuerzukunft.org, +49 40 41623120, https://www.zeitfuerzukunft.org/.

The AWO’s “Starthilfe Project” offers student coaching for young people between the ages of 14 and 18. Every young person gets a coach. With their coach, the young people can practice for school and learn German. You can also talk about career prospects, internships and other things that are currently on their mind. The offer is free. Young people who are interested in the project can write an email to info@starthilfe-hamburg.de or call +49 162 1373465.

Child benefits (Kindergeld) and other financial support
If you are already entitled to live and work in Germany, you can also apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) and child benefit (Kindergeld). It is important that you keep the child’s birth certificate.

You can apply for child benefits (Kindergeld) and a supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) at the Familienkasse (office for family benefits) of the Bundesarbeitsagentur (federal employment agency). Unaccompanied minors can apply for the child benefits (Kindergeld) themselves. You can find more information and application forms here: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/en/download-center. If you have any questions, call +49 8004555530.

You can apply for parents money (Elterngeld) if you earn less money because you are looking after your child. Parental allowance (parental allowance) can only be applied for up until your child’s second birthday. You can apply at the Elterngeldstelle (office for parents money). You can find the competent office, which also offers advice, here: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/hamburg/11256284/ (Search term: “Elterngeld, Zuständigkeit”), type in your child’s address and then only the day of the month on which your child has been born. The Diakonie Hamburg Integration Center supports you in getting child benefit (child benefit) and parental benefit (parental benefit): Winterhuder Weg 31. The advice is free and confidential. Make an appointment in advance: +49 40 357719940, iz-nord@diakonie-hamburg.de .

Children younger than 18: if your child wants to take part in activities outside of school, you can receive 15 € to finance them. You have to prove that your child participates in an activity. You can use the money to pay for the activity itself or to pay for equipment (for example sports wear). This includes for example

  • Culture: theatre workshops
  • Music: music lessons
  • Sports
  • Camps

You can find providers of activities here: https://www.hamburg.de/sozialbehoerde/but/. You can find more information in German here: https://www.hamburg.de/bildungspaket-kultur-musik-sport/. You can find an overview about financial support for your child in your language here: https://www.hamburg.de/bildungspaket/4125952/faltblatt-bildungspaket/.

Ask any questions here: +49 40 115 or bildungspaket@eimsbuettel.hamburg.de.

Advice centres

The Jugendmigrationsdienst (Youth Migration Service) is an advice centre for young people with a migrant background between the ages of 12 and 27. They provide support for young people with their educational, vocational and social integration process in Germany. For example:

  • Your search for German courses
  • Issues at school
  • Your search for tutoring services
  • Career orientation (apprenticeship (Ausbildung), vocational school, university)

At the same time, they are also able to answer parents’ questions regarding their children’s education and schooling.

They also offer group projects and  promote volunteer work.

Jugendmigrationsdienst (Youth Migration Service) Hamburg
Glockengießerwall 3, please make an appointment: ute.gruetter@cjd.de, +49 40 211118113.

You can find other Jugendmigrationsdienste here: https://www.jugendmigrationsdienste.de/suche?L=0&id=11&tx_solr%5Bq%5D=jmd+hamburg&tx_solr%5Bfilter%5D%5B%5D=.

You can ask for advice online here: www.jmd4you.de. You can ask questions in chat and email in different languages (including English, Russian and Arabic).

Parent schools (Elternschulen) provide a place in various parts of the city where parents can receive support and advice on topics such as parenthood and childbirth. It is also possible, for example, to meet and exchange ideas with other mothers and fathers at “baby meetings” (Babytreffs). Many of the offers are free, but some offers require you to pay a small fee. Sometimes you can be exempted from paying. In some parts of the city there are special offers for people who have fled to Germany. Register in advance. You can find a parent school near you here: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/suche/elternschule/ or https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/info/11297894/ (search term: “Elternschulen”).

Parenting advice centers can also advise you on questions about parenting, children and families. You can find educational advice centers here: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/info/11256469/n0/ (search term: “Erziehungsberatung”), enter your address below.

Advice and support for families living in Hamburg can also be found online here: http://t.hh.de/3055314.

Pregnancy and mothers

Pregnant women are entitled to special protection in Germany. This protection also applies if you decide that you do not want to have the child. You are entitled to special medical care and advice. You should go to a gynaecologist (Frauenarzt or Frauenärztin).

Your doctor will give you a pregnancy record booklet (Muterpass) if you are pregnant. The pregnancy record booklet (Mutterpass) is a small booklet in which doctors document your pregnancy. In case of an emergency, doctors can find in the booklet the information they need to best take care of you and your child. Therefore, you should always carry the pregnancy record booklet (Mutterpass) with you.

Advice for pregnant women and parents (even without papers or registration):

There are information centres for mothers where children and especially infants can receive a medical check-up free of charge. Have someone accompany you who is able to translate if necessary. You can find information centres for mothers here: https://www.hamburg.de/behoerdenfinder/hamburg/11262466/ (search term: “Mütterberatung Hamburg”), then enter your address.

Further services for new or expectant mothers are available at the IN VIA Association:

  • Mother-child-group in Bergedorf: For mothers with children up to the age of 3. Interpreters for Dari/Farsi and Arabic are available on-site: Edith-Stein-Platz 1, Thursdays 10 am to 12 pm (noon).
  • Breakfast meeting in Bergedorf: For families who have been displaced. Topics rotate between midwife question and answer sessions, legal advice and pregnancy counselling. Interpreters for Dari/Farsi and Arabic are available on-site: Edith-Stein-Platz 1, Tuesday (starting 9:30 am).

If you have any questions about these offers you can find out more information here: http://invia-hamburg.de/migration/. +49 40 73508411, jmd.bergedorf@invia-hamburg.de.

You can use the app “HanseBaby”. Here, you can find information about paediatric practices, gynaecologist offices, consulting and help services as well as financial support options. The app offers an overview about important steps during a pregnancy (for example when to make an appointment at a maternity clinic): https://www.hamburg.de/hansebaby/13577142/app/.

You can find information about healthy food for pregnant women, mothers and babies in different languages here: https://www.hamburg.de/altona/gesunde-ernaehrung-muetter-und-babys-broschueren/.

Search for family members

If you want to get into contact with family members who are already in Germany or have been separated from your family while fleeing, there are several ways to find your family.

  • The search service of the German Red Cross helps people who have been separated from one another through wars or migration to get back into contact and search for their family members. auskunft@drk-suchdienst.de, +49 40 432020.
  • The Diakonie Hamburg migration advice center can also help you with family reunification: Königstraße 54. Make an appointment in advance: +49 40 30620312, mbe@diakonie-hamburg.de . Consultations are free and confidential and can be conducted in a variety of languages, including English, Russian and Farsi.
Family conflict resolution

Every family has conflicts. In Germany, there are various counselling centres to help you resolve these conflicts in a productive manner.

Conflict advice for adult refugees who are attending a German language course or integration course:

  • Der Begleiter e.V. offers conflict counselling for adult refugees that are taking a German language course or integration course in Germany.  Herzog-Carl-Friedrich-Platz 1.
    Open consultations: Tuesday 3 pm – 5 pm; Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon).
    You may make an appointment. Otherwise, you may have to wait for a while. +49 40 27867877 (Monday to Thursday 9 am – 5 pm, Friday 9 am – 3 am).
  • Diakonie Hamburg’s migration advice center also offers confidential and free advice on family conflicts: Königstraße 54. Make an appointment in advance: +49 40 30620-312 or mbe@diakonie-hamburg.de.
  • If you are a woman affected by domestic violence, you can call the violence against women helpline anonymously and free of charge at any time: +49 8000 116016. You can also call the number without credit on your mobile phone. If you would like, the responsible advisor will provide you with support options and offers of help in your area.

Last Updated: 25.03.2024