ISE - What is it?
Intensive one-to-one educational support (ISE for short) is a specialized service within youth welfare. It is used when conventional forms of care no longer meet the individual needs of a young person. These are often children and adolescents who are referred to as “systemic offenders” due to their complex problems.
Challenging family circumstances, a lack of social resources and a stressful environment often mean that these young people fall through the traditional help system. This is precisely where the ISE measure comes in: It is flexible, creative and tailored to the individual's needs.
Through targeted projects and personal support, the young people are supported and strengthened in their current life crisis and - in the best case - reintegrated into a stable and supportive living environment.
Legal basis
Intensive individual educational support (ISE) is based on Section 35 SGB VIII and is aimed at young people with significant social difficulties who can no longer be reached by other support services. The aim is to promote their personal development and enable them to lead an independent life. The measure is individual, flexible and can also take place outside traditional institutions - both in Germany and abroad.
Consultation procedure
In order to be able to officially implement an ISE measure, the Brussels 2a procedure must be completed. In this case, foreign authorities are contacted with a request for permission to carry out the trip as part of youth welfare in the destination country.
SGB 8 and the limits
The amendment to SGB VIII in 2021 has led to a significant increase in bureaucracy for ISE measures abroad. In many cases, measures fail because foreign authorities do not respond to consultation requests. According to the Federal Ministry, the reform serves the “necessary quality assurance” of such measures.*
What this means in practice:
In view of the heavy workload, many youth welfare offices are increasingly refraining from taking measures abroad, as the bureaucratic requirements are considered almost impossible to cope with. Regrettably, the federal government or the responsible social authorities have not yet created any alternative services for the children and young people concerned.
Despite these structural hurdles, I rely on creative solutions and close cooperation with the responsible authorities and agencies - in order to provide each young person with individually tailored support and still be able to travel within the ISE measures.
* Statement from the Federal Ministry in an email exchange dated 15.11.2021
“A whole village raises a child”
Networking and responsibility - a basis for success. The success of an ISE measure depends largely on the unity, reliability and active participation of all those involved in the support system. Everyone takes responsibility for the long-term progress and sustainable impact of the project. As a travel educator, I accompany the young people around the clock - with full attention and individual support. Behind every ISE project is a network of committed people: Judges, parents, the youth welfare office, educators and other professionals provide important preparatory and follow-up work and cooperate closely with selected youth welfare organizations.
Transparency, open communication and direct accessibility are key elements for me - they form the basis for successful cooperation throughout the entire project.
The cooperation
with the institutions
As a freelancer, I work with various youth welfare organizations from all over Germany. Each provider sets its own priorities and is integrated into individual networks - an advantage that directly benefits the young people.
Close networking with the organizations also plays a central role in my projects. After all, we are all pursuing the same goal: to create the best possible framework conditions so that young people can develop and flourish sustainably.
Costs