Financing of the FreD program
FreD is a cooperation program, so the human and material resources required can be divided into the establishment and maintenance of cooperation structures and the practical implementation of the intervention with young people (intake and course). Whether these tasks are performed by different people or better by one person depends on the local conditions. However, it is recommended that one person be appointed to take the lead. Courses should be conducted by two specialists if possible. A survey of over 100 locations revealed an average time commitment of 22.4 hours/month at “well-established” FreD locations. Assuming that one FreD course is offered per month, 10 hours per week should be calculated, or five hours per week for six courses per year.
Municipal funding
FreD is most often financed from the regular funding allocated to counseling centers, as early intervention services are now part of the standard portfolio of a specialist center. This basic funding usually comes from municipal funds, supplemented in some cases by state funding.
State funding
Individual federal states have provided (temporary) project funding for the FreD program.
Youth welfare
In a 2013 survey, a considerable number of FreD locations stated that they billed the youth welfare office for early intervention services on an hourly basis.
The provider's own funds
Some providers of specialist services have decided to finance the FreD program from their own funds. These funds consist in part of monetary penalties, fees, or health insurance funds.
Other financing
In individual cases, funds from support associations, donations, sponsorship money, and the like are used for financing. Fees are rarely charged.
Results of the partial survey on the financing of the FreD program
Survey status: May 2023
How is the FreD program financed at your location?
- 56% - Own funds of the sponsor
- 32% - Funds from monetary penalties and fines
- 27% - Explicit funding from the municipality
- 24% - Other
- 17% - Explicit funding from the state
- 7% - Participant contributions
Please note:
- This is a rough guide (not a complete survey). Multiple entries were possible, as mixed financing is often the case.
- Despite the recommendation to offer FreD free of charge to participants and not to finance it through fees, participant contributions are levied in individual cases (€50 to €150 per participant).
- Entries under “Other” include: specialist youth welfare services, youth welfare office, cooperation with open child and youth work, subsidies from other associations.
The material resources required for the face-to-face course include a room that is sufficiently large and welcoming, and possibly a projector. The methodological interventions and exercises described in the FreD manual and in the cloud can be implemented at relatively low cost.
The material resources required for the fred_online course include a computer, ideally with two screens and a camera, and possibly a smartphone.