Overcoming the prevention dilemma - Improving the accessibility of information on support services for families with a digital information platform

To help ensure children do not suffer when parents are overwhelmed, many countries, including Germany, offer child protective services and family support programs. In Germany, family centers on district-level provide preventative support services. However, the families most in need of their services often face the greatest barriers to accessing these, a situation known as the "prevention dilemma."A human-centered design process was undertaken, involving family centers and target audiences, to identify and address these barriers. The resulting native app aims to improve accessibility to support services by providing essential information. The evaluation shows the app has a high usability, was well-received by the target audience, and has the potential to mitigate some of the access barriers. This study highlights the importance of accessible support measures for vulnerable families, contributing to improved child welfare.