Do you have questions about child protection?

The telephone advice service for professionals on child protection issues is available around the clock and is aimed at employees from the healthcare sector, child and youth welfare services and family courts – free of charge and nationwide.

Who can call the medical child protection hotline?

Medical professionals:

• Doctors in hospitals and private practices
• Psychological psychotherapists (including those in training)
• Child and adolescent psychotherapists (including those in training)
• Psychologists
• Dentists
• Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists
• Emergency medical technicians / paramedics
• Health and (pediatric) nurses
• Special education teachers
• (Family) midwives/obstetric nurses
• Medical Assistant (MFA)
• Social services in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and specialized pediatric centers

Employees of child and youth welfare services

• Staff from youth welfare offices, residential groups, day care facilities
• employees in counselling centers, etc.
• Professionals in public and private child and youth welfare organizations

Employees of the family courts

• Judges
• Court clerks
• legal representatives

Whom can't we advise?

Due to the aforementioned priorities and the fact that no case responsibility can be assumed for a specific case, it is not possible to provide advice to those affected, their relatives, and professionals from other occupational groups. Local youth welfare offices are the primary contact for this. 

Professional expertise and low-threshold support

Callers receive expert advice and easily accessible support regarding questions about medical child protection. In cases of suspected abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse, the hotline offers readily available, competent, practical, and collegial consultation from physicians with specialized knowledge in child protection issues.

Since October 2016, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has been funding the nationwide, free, and 24-hour Medical Child Protection Hotline. Since its launch, healthcare professionals have received advice in over 3,100 calls regarding suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse. The focus is on questions about how to deal with suspected child endangerment, available courses of action, and contact persons.