The high stairwell is decorated with fir branches, and a large nativity scene stands on a landing. Above, colorful balls adorn a Christmas tree. When you enter one of the two residential groups in the Evangelical Child and Youth Welfare Service in Feldkirchen, the Christmas atmosphere continues: small, glittering figures are lined up next to a snow globe on a chest of drawers – however, in the middle of the festive decoration, a red bottle with disinfectant catches the eye.
The quiet on this Monday morning is also noticeable. The residents of the facility are at school – that this is possible is an enormous relief, as Andreas Hüner reports. Since the beginning of the year he has headed the child and youth welfare service of Diakonie München und Oberbayern, which was founded in 1853 and is therefore one of the oldest institutions of its kind. Hüner experienced the first months of the pandemic as the deputy of the long-time manager Achim Weiss. “The early days in particular were difficult, there were a lot of uncertainties.”
The school closings, for example, presented the facility with previously unknown challenges. Not only was the technical equipment more than inadequate and could only be improved with the help of donations, the care of the children and young people in the mornings also required a lot of planning. “There is actually no provision for morning care because the children are usually in school there,” says Hüner.
The first lockdown in particular was tough for the children and adolescents: In spring 2020, they were not even allowed to visit their parents. “Back then, that was not seen as a valid reason that was necessary to leave the house,” says Hüner, who does not understand this rule. “Children have a right to their parents. That is inalienable.” The carers tried to establish contact with the parents, for example digitally via video phone call. However, the children and young people had to stay in the facility for several months.
Some of the children and adolescents live in the remedial residential groups due to attachment or developmental disorders. Some have never learned to build trust due to family conflicts, have language problems, or have difficulties at school. What does it do with such children when they are barely allowed outside for such a long period of time? The closings were particularly difficult for children with mental disabilities, reports Ann-Kathrin Luschewitz, deputy general manager of the facility.
“It might even have been more difficult for only children.”
Overall, however, according to Hüner, the supervisors and teachers were able to absorb a lot. “They can deal with tensions that can arise from a lockdown and identify strategies for resolving them.” In addition, the children and adolescents would have had their roommates even in the toughest lockdown. “It was perhaps even more difficult for only children who experienced the problems alone and without the support of educational specialists,” says Hüner.
Much has gotten better in the two-year pandemic. There are masks and protective equipment for staff and residents, and for some time now, regular tests have provided additional security, as Luschewitz says. Despite all the precautionary measures, infections and quarantine cases cannot be completely avoided.
The children and young people live in residential groups.
(Photo: Sebastian Gabriel)
The residential groups of the facility are then considered to be household items. “It continues as normal as possible,” says Hüner. With good organization one can try to keep infected and healthy children and young people at a distance, for example by dividing meal and homework times. Nevertheless, it happened again and again that the disease was passed on within the residential group. “We can’t lock the children in their rooms for two weeks,” says Hüner.
Dealing with an infection always depends on the age of the residents: the elderly understand the situation better and sometimes isolate themselves, “but small children need to be close and do not always keep their distance”. However, according to Hüner, the facility has one major advantage: children are not a vulnerable group. According to the director, the infections in the Feldkirchen child and youth welfare department have always been mild.
In cases of infection, the fears and concerns of employees play a major role, as Luschewitz explains. In groups with sick children, the educators came in protective clothing, and in mobile quarantine they commuted between the facility and their place of residence. “For many who have families at home, it was difficult to organize. They were worried about the possibility of infecting someone at home.” According to their own words, the facility managers therefore committed themselves to giving the carers a feeling of security despite everything, be it through protective clothing or vaccination offers.
Whether the children and adolescents are vaccinated is a free decision for those subject to custody, says Hüner. “We don’t make any recommendations, everyone has to discuss this with the pediatrician himself.” The facility managers and their staff only advised the parents on where to get information on vaccination. “Some parents are happy to have their children vaccinated, others have concerns. It is the same with us as it is in society as a whole.”
In the current wave, the children and adolescents are largely allowed to meet friends and parents outside the facility as normally. “We are still concerned with what activities we can do now during the Christmas season,” says Luschewitz. In the past, people used to do a lot during the holidays that is no longer so easy, for example visiting a trampoline hall.
The Advent bazaar, where the children usually sell handicrafts and biscuits in the facility, does not take place either. Nevertheless, one tries to find alternatives and to enable the children and young people to have a good Christmas time. However, they do handicrafts and bake, the premises are festively decorated, says Hüner. “Some of them are in the facility on Christmas Eve. It is always celebrated nicely and is a highlight for everyone.” After all, child and youth welfare is a temporary home. “We want to make it as beautiful as possible together with the residents.” Because it all costs money, of course, Hüner and his team would be happy to receive donations from the SZ Advent calendar.