255. When facing child-rearing problems, parents in Germany can obtain assistance from the …

Answer options

1. Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt).
2. School Authority (Schulamt).
3. Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt).
4. Public Health Office (Gesundheitsamt).

Explanation

The competent authority is the Youth Welfare Office; its mandate is grounded in child and youth welfare law (Book VIII of the Social Code), especially the assistance with upbringing (Hilfen zur Erziehung) under §§ 27 et seq. SGB VIII. Article 6(2) of the Basic Law secures parental primacy in education while imposing the state’s supervisory duty (Wächteramt) to protect the child’s best interests and support families. These tasks are carried out at the municipal level (local youth welfare agencies) and follow the principle of subsidiarity with strong participation of independent providers. Public order, school, and health authorities have different competences and do not provide the legally codified upbringing assistance offered by the Jugendamt.