At a house beside a lake, five children sit around a dining table, but instead of mum and dad, they call for Mrs Wagner and Mr Gerecke. For the time being, these youth workers are their primary caregivers, stepping in as parents for all of life’s milestones, shift after shift, with everything that entails—above all: being role models. The children live here by order of the Youth Welfare Office. They all want to go home at some point. To make this possible, the caregivers mediate between guardians, parents, and youth welfare services—which is often an uphill battle at the limits of an overstretched system. The Family Approach offers intimate insights into the everyday lives of youth workers over the course of a year, revealing the superpowers it takes to raise a child.

Impact goals

• strengthening the visibility and appreciation for caregivers in child and youth welfare services through 20+ screenings for decision-makers.
• counteracting stigmatisation and empowering children who grow up outside their parental home to find their own agency and equal opportunities.
• discussing the role of the (nuclear) family in society through an educational program.
• using the film to generate enthusiasm for caregiving and increase applicants for apprenticeships and job offers.
• emphasising the necessity of residential child and youth care services as essential to training and apprenticeships.

To achieve this, we would like to... 

• create an education kit with our film as a tool for discussions on parenthood, family values, and education, targeting both professionals and a broader audience interested in child welfare.
• use a shortened version of the film at job fairs, in educational programs, and to promote apprenticeships.
• develop a playful, humorous marketing and impact campaign to increase visibility for the caregiving profession, highlighting modern family challenges through postcards, stickers, and social media.

At the Good Media Pitch, we are looking for…

• institutions to partner with for our child welfare impact campaign and use our film to advance their goals.
• passionate educators, caregivers, and youth welfare employees willing to discuss their profession’s challenges.
• experts in website-building, fundraising platforms, and legal aspects to ensure campaign effectiveness.
• journalists, press members, politicians, labour union members, and potential ambassadors to share our film’s message.
• cinemas and other venues for  film screening