Living with a young child can bring a lot of joy, but it can also be confusing or overwhelming at times. Frühe Hilfen Wien is here for pregnant women, expectant parents and families with children up to their third birthday.
We listen and help you find a way forward.
Family support helps when:
unexpected changes come up during pregnancy
you feel alone and have little support from family or friends
you feel unsure about caring for your child
your child shows signs of developmental difficulties or has an acute or chronic illness
everyday life feels overwhelming
you are worried about money, housing or work
you or someone in the family is struggling with their mental health
Family support is free of charge, voluntary and confidential, and anonymous if you wish. Every family is assigned a family supporter who stays with you for as long as you need. Our family supporters come from a range of professions, including education, psychology, social work and midwifery, so we can respond to very different questions and situations.
We offer:
counselling on pregnancy, on your child's development and on parenting
support in strengthening the relationship between you and your child
someone to accompany you to appointments with authorities, doctors and other services
help with organising practical support
referral to other services in the Frühe Hilfen network
meetings at your home, at one of our locations or somewhere else that suits you
We do not provide childcare or housekeeping ourselves, but we can help you find it.
1. Call us. Our family supporters at the phone service will listen, take note of your situation and explain what we offer. If you would like to continue, a family supporter will contact you within a week to arrange a first appointment.
2. First meeting. The first meeting can take place at your home or at one of our locations. You get to know each other, talk about your questions and worries and consider possible next steps. If you would like our support, you arrange the next appointment together.
3. Ongoing support. Family support usually starts with weekly meetings and continues for as long as you need it. Your family supporter comes to your home or you come to us. Depending on what you need, they can also recommend and connect you to further services in the health, social and education systems.
Everything we discuss stays between us. We document our work and consult within our team when necessary. Information is only passed on with your agreement. We are, however, obliged to inform the child and youth welfare service (Kinder- und Jugendhilfe) if we suspect that a child's wellbeing is at risk.
Frühe Hilfen Wien
phone: +43 1 38 9 83, mail: anfrage@fruehehilfen.wien (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Frühe Hilfen (Early Childhood Interventions) are regional networks that have been in place across Austria since 2015. They follow a model developed by the Austrian National Public Health Institute (GÖG) and bring together professionals from the health and social sectors to support families during pregnancy and the first three years of a child's life.
Frühe Hilfen Wien are run by die möwe, Volkshilfe Wien and Diakonie Eine Welt Sozialdienst. They are funded by the health and pension insurance institutions, the City of Vienna and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
Information for families in English and many other languages: www.fruehehilfen.at