For students in the Social Work or Social Pedagogy programs, the General Social Services (ASD) offers internships that are integrated into the curriculum. Internships are generally available during the periods March 1–August 31 and August 1–March 31.

The ASD’s mission is to promote the development of young people, support parents in exercising their right to care for and raise their children, and protect children and adolescents who are at risk. The goal is to create positive living conditions for parents and children through preventive measures and family support services. In addition to a wide range of measures, cooperation and networking with other services and independent youth welfare organizations are an important part of the ASD’s activities.

Contact person: Stefan Santner 06131/ 12 29 42

Internships integrated into the course of study are available for students of social work or social pedagogy in the field of youth welfare in criminal proceedings/youth court assistance. The internships are generally available in the periods from March 1 to August 31 and from August 1 to March 31.

Youth court assistance is a specialized department of the youth welfare office and works in the field of juvenile criminal proceedings. Its task is to support young people and their parents, as well as adolescents between the ages of 14 and 20, against whom criminal investigations have been initiated. The department acts as a mediator between the police, the judiciary, and the young person.

Contact: Frederik Dittrich 06131/ 5 86 10 24

Internships integrated into the degree program are available in the field of youth protection/street work for students studying social work or social pedagogy. Internships are generally available from March 1 to August 31 and from August 1 to March 31.

Child and youth protection is a field of action within youth welfare. The range of tasks extends from counseling and public relations work to expert opinions on all issues relating to youth protection and youth media protection, to the identification and processing of administrative offenses and criminal offenses under youth protection laws, and the implementation of youth protection controls in cooperation with other authorities. Child and youth protection encompasses legal, educational, and structural tasks. Educational child and youth protection also includes street work.

The basis and starting point for street work is establishing contact with young people who attract attention through conspicuous behavior and often show signs of disadvantage and exclusion. Although working with these young people, for example through the implementation of specific projects, accounts for an increasingly large part of the work, a key element of the work is regularly visiting prominent youth-specific meeting places, on streets and squares in Mainz city center and in the districts, pubs, discos, and at large events.

Contact: Marvin Mißkampf, Tel.: 06131 12-49501

For students of social work or social pedagogy, the Addiction Support Department at the CAFÈ BALANCE Drug Support Center offers internships that can be integrated into their studies. The internships have a minimum duration of three months. If you are interested, you can spend a day observing to get an impression of the work in advance.

The drug assistance center's approach is low-threshold and acceptance-oriented. This means that those affected can visit the café during opening hours and take advantage of the everyday assistance offered. The expectation that people with addictions will strive for abstinence is not a prerequisite for receiving support and assistance from the drug assistance center. Even if drug use continues, the center seeks ways to improve the individual's life situation and problems and provides support to this end.

Further information about the internship is available here: https://www.cafe-balance.de/die-einrichtung-cafe-balance/praktikum.html (opens in a new tab)

Contact: Matthias Koll 06131/ 57 47 84

Students studying social work, social pedagogy, or educational sciences have the opportunity to complete an internship at the Haus Haifa Children's, Youth, and Cultural Center in Mainz.

The youth centers offer media, creative, sports, games, and leisure activities, as well as appropriate support for children, young people, and parents in school, career, and family matters. Thanks to a wide range of educational offerings and methods, networking with other youth welfare organizations, and participation in relevant training events, the children's, youth, and cultural centers are able to provide a broad, low-threshold, and professional range of support services.

Contact: Andreas Pötter 06131/ 12 21 03

For students of social work or social pedagogy, school social work offers the opportunity to complete a practical semester before taking the final exam for state recognition. 

School social work is a youth welfare service offered at schools and acts as an interface with the Office for Youth and Family Affairs. At elementary schools and high schools, it offers counseling and support for students, guardians, and teachers. The field of work includes individual case assistance, social education work with classes and groups, and networking.

The practical semester can only be started at the beginning of a school year.
Application deadline: November 1 of the previous year.

Contact persons:
Stefan Gers: +49 6131 12-29 57
Nadine Schaper: +49 6131 12-34 06

The General Social Services Department (ASD) offers students enrolled in social work or social pedagogy programs the opportunity to complete the certification year prior to taking the final exam for state certification.

The ASD’s mission is to promote the development of young people, support parents in their right to care for and raise their children, and protect children and adolescents who are at risk. The goal is to create positive living conditions for parents and children through preventive measures and family-support services. In addition to a wide range of measures, cooperation and networking with other services and independent youth welfare organizations are an important part of the ASD’s activities.

Contact person: Stefan Santner 06131/ 12 29 42

The Youth Welfare in Criminal Proceedings/Youth Court Assistance department offers students studying social work or social pedagogy the opportunity to complete their probationary year before taking their final state recognition exam.

Youth court assistance is a specialized department of the youth welfare office and works in the field of juvenile criminal proceedings. Its task is to support young people and their parents, as well as adolescents between the ages of 14 and 20 who are subject to criminal investigations. The department acts as a mediator between the police, the judiciary, and the young person.

Contact: Frederik Dittrich 06131/ 5 86 10 24

The Day Care Centers Department offers students studying social work or social pedagogy the opportunity to complete their probationary year in the field of specialist day care consulting before taking their final state recognition exam.

Child day care is a family-like and flexible form of care that can be provided exclusively or in addition to other forms of care. In addition to nurseries, kindergartens, and after-school care centers, the care of children by childminders (day care providers) or caregivers in their own homes has been a proven form of care for many years.

Contact: Rosemarie Gilla 06131/ 12 24 36