Horizont reports on the “Family Coach” pilot project

Very many mothers in the HORIZONT house are sometimes completely overwhelmed with the upbringing of their children due to their general situation (homelessness, debts, violence, loneliness, etc.). Currently, many mothers live at HORIZONT, most of whom do not receive any support from their families because they are not in the same country or there is no contact with the parental home. The mothers are unable to set any limits for their children, allow themselves to be bullied by their children and can become violent towards their children in return. For this reason, the project “Family Coach” was started. In order to be able to support a family effectively, it needs a person who deals exclusively with the educational problems and can present new ways and educational possibilities. The targeted intervention in the family system should therefore not be carried out directly by a HORIZONT team member, as they work too closely with the families on a day-to-day basis.

The “family coach” supports the families, helps them to deal with trauma, to overcome everyday problems and challenges and to restore family cohesion and works through problems. The family coach is not in close contact with the Youth Welfare Office like the Outpatient Educational Help (AEH) and does not have to report. However, an AEH from the Youth Welfare Office is called in for a son of family X, for example, and is therefore only allowed to focus on him and not on the siblings and/or the mother, which is extremely important, however. In comparison, the family coach can work with the whole family and is not only responsible for a single child.

Interview with the women and children of HORIZONT

The HORIZONT team interviewed the families who are being coached by the first family coach Mathilda Legitimus Schleicher:

Service title

Especially, because of the language
On the first day: still a bit difficult because you don’t know the person; on the second meeting already much more relaxed.
I liked her immediately. At the first meeting I can already see who can help me, and with Mathilda it was a good fit.

Service title

She helps with problems/all the children’s needs.
She helps with how the children are educated/integrated.
She helps with letters/official matters.
She helps with bank transactions (e.g. transfers, setting up an account).
Mathilda does a lot!
She helps with understanding difficulties.
She helps with administrative things-
She helps me as if she were my aunt.
Mathilda helps me with the children. How to talk to them, especially with my son. I’m happy with how things are going so far.
Everything I need. I speak very openly.

Service title

The residence title was clarified.
Change of school and kindergarten.
Regular participation in the German course.
Regular contact on the part of the father with his daughter.
Support in finding tutoring for my daughter.
Achieved a lot for the children at school.
Found a therapist for my son.
Mathilda found a German course for me.
I look after the children more, I have to be there more for the children. Important things at school.

Service title

Homework
Practising school material
Eating delicious cake (which Mathilda brings)
Mathilda defends me (“conflicts” with my mother or other children in the house)
She plays with me
She cuddles with me
She celebrates birthdays with me
She goes shopping with me
Brings me great presents
I can meet up with friends and Mathilda looks after my little sister
Mathilda talks a lot with the teachers at school and makes appointments with them. We talk about problems at school, including fights.
We talk about free time, swimming.

Service title

“The little sister can’t do everything the big one is allowed to do”.
She teaches me many things
Learned to cook
I only pee in my pants very rarely now
I listen more to mum
“You can’t always do everything you want to do”.
I’ve learned that I don’t have to hit and do homework.
You have to be good and respectful.

Service title

“I feel more relaxed since Mathilda has been supporting me.”
“If Mathilda is no longer there, then it won’t be easy!”

We are very pleased that the “Family Coach” project has started so successfully and that we can support HORIZONT e.V. in their great work in this way. Homelessness of women and children is still a reality in Germany, and the trend is even increasing, especially in big cities like Munich. To counteract this, a second HORIZONT house is currently being built. We admire this commitment and thank Ms Speidel and the HORIZONT team for their outstanding dedication!