The Advisory and Ombudsman's Office for Child and Youth Services (BerNi) was founded in August 2011. Since then, BerNi has been committed to proactive, needs-based and, above all, legal child and youth services in Lower Saxony and is a full member of the Federal Ombudsman's Network for Child and Youth Services.

In 2017, the association was recognized by the Lower Saxony State Youth Welfare Office as an independent provider of child and youth welfare services. Since August 2023, the association has been carrying out the tasks of the supra-regional ombudsman's office in Lower Saxony.

Since its foundation, the association has worked independently of the interests of the public and private youth welfare providers in Lower Saxony.

To ensure independence, the association has two types of membership:

• Only natural persons may become voting members of the association.

• Legal entities - such as youth welfare agencies that operate as aid-providing organizations - can only become supporting members without voting rights in association matters.

If you would like to become a member, you can download a membership form here.