The nationwide helpline "Pregnant women in need" offers initial psychosocial counseling for pregnant women, the social environment, and qualified specialists. The service is available 24/7 at 0800 40 40 020, free of charge, anonymously, free of obstacles, and in 18 languages - also for women who have come from Ukraine - in Polish, Russian, or English if required. The aim of the offer is to refer to a local pregnancy counseling center.
The translation service offered by the "Pregnant women in need" helpline will soon also be available in Ukrainian. The information materials for pregnant women in need will also be translated into Ukrainian shortly.
Regardless of nationality, the Federal Foundation Mother and Child in Germany also supports pregnant women in need. It also grants financial aid for maternity clothes, baby equipment, housing and furnishings as well as care of an infant. Women who recently had to flee Ukraine, can apply at the pregnancy counseling centers for support from the Foundation free of bureaucracy. Any missing documents can be submitted later.
The information leaflet with all relevant information about the Foundation and its offers are available in Ukrainian on the website of the Federal Foundation and can also be downloaded here as well as ordered. In addition, an information poster in German and English in DIN A3 format provides information about the assistance provided by the Federal Foundation Mother and Child. First and foremost, it should reach pregnant women who have fled better. It contains three QR codes that take one directly to the Federal Foundation's information leaflets in German, English, and Ukrainian. The information poster is particularly suitable for counseling centers, clinics, medical practices, and all other places that have contact with refugees.
The National Centre for Early Intervention (Nationales Zentrum Frühe Hilfen) offers additional counselling and information. It has compiled an overview for pregnant women and families on elternsein.info in Ukrainian, English and Russian. Professionals in the field of early intervention have access to training, resources and further information on supporting refugee families at fruehehilfen.de.
The Guide to child day care in Germany offers the most important answers for parents with children of daycare age. The Guide is aimed at Ukrainian families as well as private persons, institutions, and organizations that advise refugees on child daycare. It is available in Ukrainian and German.
In Germany, all children from the age of one have a legal right to child daycare. The Guide shows how parents can find a childcare place for their child, how the start with daycare, and what the childcare costs are. More information on the various forms of care, opening hours, meals, the requirements for infection protection, and cooperating with families is summarized in the guide.
In addition, the German Federal Association of Family Daycare has been providing information on caring for children in daycare in different languages for years. The information is now also available for download in Ukrainian.
Further information on the possibility of free child care can be found at “Financial support for families“.
The two-year model project ‘fem.point’ of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth started in July 2022. It offers women who have fled Ukraine in Berlin comprehensive counselling and placement in qualification and employment, including language acquisition and support services for children. The objective is to integrate the participants into the labour market. There are both low-threshold open contact offers (contact point ‘Café fem.point’) as well as binding individual coaching formats (including educational counselling, job coaching, initial support after taking up employment).
To the webseite (in German language)
Information flyer (partly in Ukraine language)
Information flyer (partly in Russian language)
Further information can be found here.
The more than 530 multi-generation houses throughout Germany also offer a wide range of support. They are contact points in the neighborhoods and, together with volunteers, help people who have fled from Ukraine. Depending on the location, the offerings and activities range from meeting cafés, arranging interpreters, psychological support, sponsorships and, if necessary, arranging accommodation. In addition, some facilities also offer hot meals, help with applications, leisure and advisory services, language courses with childcare, and the provisioning of decentralized relief goods databases for refugees. Some of the multi-generation houses also organize benefit events and fund-raising campaigns or run charity stores. You can find houses near you here.
Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. (Number Against Sorrow; in German language) is an association that aims at being a competent contact for children, young people and parents to help them with small and big worries, problems and fears. This includes heartbreak as well as school problems, but also very serious situations such as sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts. The advisors at ‘Nummer gegen Kummer’ primarily act as partners in dialogue who respect the anonymity of those seeking advice and provide help for self-help.
Their ‘Helpline Ukraine’ is aimed specifically at Ukrainians and offers telephone advice in Ukrainian and Russian for children, young people, parents and relatives.
Helpline Ukraine
0800 500 225 0 (anonymous and free of charge throughout Germany)
Monday to Friday, 2 pm to 5 pm
To the webseite (in English language)
Frühe Hilfen advise and support families with young children from Ukraine.