The 2026 State “Family-Friendly Community” Award

Family-oriented intergenerational projects, the active involvement of children and parents in planning processes, a family-friendly administrative structure, flexible care and support services, as well as prevention efforts and neighborhood-based initiatives: Many municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia are increasingly aligning their actions with the needs of families. Challenges are viewed as opportunities, particularly in light of the diversity of everyday family life and demographic change.

Family life takes shape right here in the cities and municipalities of North Rhine-Westphalia. Local governments are implementing numerous innovative projects that improve the daily lives and quality of life for families. The state government wishes to recognize the family-friendly efforts of local governments and has announced the “Family-Friendly Municipality” state award for the third time—this year under the motto “A Home. For Families.” Municipalities across the state were invited to apply with comprehensive family policy plans, individual projects, or priority projects addressing the topics of “Balancing Family, Caregiving, and Work” and “Combating Child and Family Poverty.”

An independent jury composed of representatives from the Ministry of Family Affairs, academia, family organizations, and Prognos AG selected this year’s winning municipalities. 

“Comprehensive Family Policy Concept” category

• Detmold
  Working hand in hand to ensure good opportunities for families’ development and participation: The city of Detmold demonstrates how prevention and a community-based approach can be embedded in a comprehensive and effective family policy strategy. Central contact points such as the Familien.Info.Treff and the PUB.I.T. Children and Youth Service Center bring together counseling, support, and participation, making it easier for families, children, and youth to access appropriate services.
• Düsseldorf
  The city views prevention as a cross-departmental municipal responsibility. Youth services, social services, health, education, and urban planning are systematically linked in this effort. Through the Opportunity Fund and the Future Prize, the city specifically supports projects that reduce child poverty and improve the social participation of financially disadvantaged people. In this way, Düsseldorf combines strategic prevention planning with concrete support and a sustainable perspective.
• Krefeld
  In Krefeld, poverty prevention is a cross-sectoral municipal task that combines data-driven and socio-spatial approaches. Social reporting highlights different life situations and support needs, on the basis of which services are then specifically developed and municipal resources are allocated according to need. The city is thus consciously focusing on sustainable structures.

Category: “Individual Family Policy Project”

• Bochum
  Close to citizens and mobile: With the BO:StarQ project, Bochum brings counseling and support directly into the living spaces of families affected by poverty and those at risk of poverty. Particularly impressive is the collaboration between the city administration, the Job Center, the Employment Agency, and independent welfare organizations.
• Dortmund
  With its specially created “Mini Dortmund” children’s city, Dortmund combines reliable after-school care with democracy education and active participation. Children take on responsibility, elect political representatives, develop rules, and shape their community life. Democracy is not just explained—it is experienced firsthand.
• Ennepe-Ruhr District
  With its “work-care-live” campaign, the district makes it clear that balancing work and caregiving should not be viewed solely as a private responsibility of employees. It actively involves companies and government agencies and supports them in developing concrete solutions for employees with caregiving responsibilities and putting these solutions into practice.

Being family-friendly can take many different forms. On the following pages, we’ll introduce you to the six award-winning municipalities in more detail.

• Prof. Dr. Susanne von Hehl (Scientific Director of the Family Policy Research Center at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Bochum)
• Marvin Schmidt (Executive Director of the Evangelical Working Group on Family Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia and Representative of the State Working Group of Family Associations in North Rhine-Westphalia)
• Dr. David Juncke (Head of Family Policy at Prognos AG)
• Dr. Thomas Weckelmann (Head of the Family Division at the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Family Affairs)
• Axel Müller (Deputy Director of the Family Affairs Division at the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Family Affairs)