Navigating Crisis: The Transformative Impact of COVID-19 on Family Support Services in Germany

In 2024, we published a study named “COVID-19 as a Driver of Professionalization in Work with Families in Germany" [1]. The following text is a commentary on this study. It presents key findings and the study's approach but also contextualizes further questions arising from the post-pandemic period. The article presents a comprehensive examination of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family support services in Germany. It highlights how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for both the professionalization and professionalization of social work with families. The study articulates the multifaceted challenges faced by families during the pandemic and the subsequent adaptations made by practitioners in the field. Shortly after the onset of the pandemic in February 2020, it became evident that the restrictions on public life significantly impacted families, particularly children and young people. Prior to the COVID pandemic, certain family structures were already experiencing considerable pressure and relied heavily on various facilities and networks for educational and preventive support. However, providing consistent assistance to these families during the pandemic proved challenging, as many critical facilities were not initially deemed “systemically relevant” and were forced to close for extended periods. The study therefore investigates the extent to which support networks and specific services for children and families were maintained during the prolonged period of contact restrictions and facility closures from 2020 to 2022. It also examines how working conditions and the overall environment for supporting families evolved during the pandemic. The results illuminate both the negative and positive changes in educational and support work with families throughout this period.