"The framework concept is about optimizing the existing system," says First City Councillor Christa Frenzel of the city of Salzgitter, explaining the ratification of the concept. Although cooperation between school social workers from the city and the state had already taken place beforehand, the codification of the standards of the joint work in the form of the framework concept now ensures greater commitment in the form of a cooperation agreement. An important element here is the coordinated and uniform approach to child protection between the state and the city of Salzgitter.

The concept sets common priorities and framework conditions for the work of the state and municipal school social workers, which enables them to act professionally at the schools. The social education specialists from the state and the city integrate social learning into the school "system". "It is a further step from the pure transfer of knowledge at schools towards 'school as a living space'," emphasizes Frenzel. Children and young people are not only judged on their behavior at school, as was previously the case, but the environment in which they live is also taken into account. The increased promotion of the emotional and social skills of children and young people contributes to the positive development of their personality.

"Salzgitter has a unique selling point," says Alp Turan, Head of Education at the Lower Saxony State Education Authority, "because it is the first municipality in Lower Saxony to ratify this agreement with the state." Another special feature of the city, explains Turan, "is that we were able to use social indicators right from the start."

Before this framework concept could be agreed, a working group consisting of representatives from the administration, school management and school social work from the city and the state was set up to develop it. The basis was the circular decree of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs "Social work in school responsibility" and the orientation framework for "Cooperation between social work in school responsibility and child and youth welfare".

At present, a total of 20 social education specialists from the state and 8 social education workers from the city are employed in school social work in Salzgitter. However, this cooperation only works through communication, emphasizes the head of the school department at the state authority. To enable the employees to coordinate their work, four fixed network meetings are held each year. In addition, a joint training and supervision program as well as the creation of synergies contribute to professional cooperation between employees.

In order to manage and ensure the quality of the work, discussion forums are also held twice a year with the participation of Alp Turan, Head of Education at the Lower Saxony State Education Authority, Christa Frenzel, Head of the Children, Youth and Family Department, Dr. Roswitha Krum and Nadja Koszudowski, Education Coordinator for the City of Salzgitter