separated children in Austria 11.06.2018 separated children in Austria Lisa Wolfsegger asylkoordination österreich

asylum applications (AT) 2012 – 17.413 applications – 1.781 = 10,23 % SC 2013 – 17.503 applications – 1.187 = 6,78 % SC 2014 – 28.027 applications – 2.260 = 8 % SC 2015 - 88.151 applications – 9.331 = 10,59 % SC 2016 – until October – 37.256 applications (4.076 = 10,94 % SC)

SC-asylum applications 2015

SC-countries of origin 2015 2016 – until October citizenship <14 14-18 total Afghanistan 385 5.291 5.676 Syria 166 963 1.128 Iraq 56 303 359 Somalia 3 216 219 Nigeria - 208 Pakistan 2 184 186 Algeria 1 103 104 stateless 26 82 108 citizenship <14 14-18 total Afghanistan 275 2.236 2.511 Somalia 56 363 419 Pakistan 6 282 288 Nigeria - 203 Syria 19 99 118 Morocco 91 Algeria 88 Iraq 21 55 76

accommodation state province 3 categories for care initial reception and approval procedure Asylum procedure after approval procedure 70-150 SC / camp in 9 camps (600 SC) smaller groups (8-40 SC) in ~ 130 camps 1:15 care = 1 care worker for 15 kids per week  2.5 h per child/week (security in the night) 1:10 care = 1 care worker for 10 24/7 kids per week  15-20 h per child/week (24h care) Residence up to 6 month – no guardians, no decisions and no appropriate education Age assessment Residence during the procedure, guardians available, education possible 3 categories for care Living unit, 1:10 care, maximum rate 95 € / day (4.000 SC) Residential home, 1:15 care, maximum rate 63,5 € / day (700 SC) Assisted living, 1:20 care maximum rate 40,5 € / day (100 SC) compare: other out-of-home children in Austria: max. 8 per unit, day rate between 120 - 500€

Good practices Child welfare assumes full responsibility for < 14 (higher rates, smaller units,…) 1 living unit (6 SC) offers psychological care (TG Penzing) – 230 € / day Some provinces have SC focus groups at the BFA (authority which decides) Guardian standards are different in each province – especially in western provinces (Tyrol, Vorarlberg) guardiance works well – including follow up care Foster care is established in nearly all provinces – ~ 150 cp in are in foster care. (good practice in Vienna – KUI) Legal representatives prepare and accompany asylum investigations System for ‚godparents‘ in every province (organized by NGOs)

Main challenges Age assessment: too early, made within minority age, takes month until the result, high risks, high costs (~ 2.000.000 in 2015) Unequal treatment asylum seeking SC and Austrian children Differences in care (organised by the province) Lacking offers for psychological therapy (~20 % need therapy) Family reunification: long duration, 3 years waiting period with subsidiary protection, minority at point of decision, financial difficulties  ~ 10 % of all SC No guardianship during approval procedure (legal counselling is offered) Education: hard to find schools for those over 15 Immense problems when SC turn 18

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