A special programme was introduced, specially designed for young people who, because of their poor level of education and language ability, were unable to find a suitable job or training place. The young people were offered a one-year full-time course of training to qualify them for a training place or job, and in September 1980, approximately 15,000 young people were participating in these courses. From 1980 onwards, parents could deduct the cost of day care for their children (in day nurseries and nursery schools in particular) from their taxable income up to an annual maximum of DM 600 or DM 1,200 depending on whether the income of a single parent or that of a married couple was involved. Major additions were also made to the regulations on dangerous substances, while comprehensive new regulations concerning installations requiring supervision were introduced. The Federal Ministry for Youth, Family Affairs and Health gave particular attention to assisting parents in assuming their educational responsibilities towards their children. For instance, special 'letters to parents' were distributed free of charge to parents of children under 8, with some 3 million sent in 1979. A determined effort was also made to provide better education for socially disadvantaged children by supporting pilot schemes and research projects. Public funds had been allocated from 1979 onwards to a pilot scheme entitled 'Aid to children in need' under which children's communities were set up in Berlin and Gütersloh to protect and care for children who had been or were at risk of being ill-treated by their parents, while at the same time the family education and advisory services were assigned the task of educating these parents.
a sPEcial pRogramME wAs iNtrodUced specialLy DesiGned for Young peopLe whO BEcAuSe oF THEIr poOr leVEl oF EduCAtion aND LAnGUage abiLity wERe unAble tO fInD A SUitablE jOb oR traInIng plaCe the youNg peOplE wErE offErEd a one-YeaR FuLl-time CouRSE of trainIng To Qualify tHeM foR a trAiNING Place oR jOb aNd iN septeMber 1980 approxIMAteLY 15000 yOUNg peoPLe wERe pARTicIpating in tHESE couRses FROM 1980 onwarDs parEnTs could dEdUct the cOst of dAY care for theiR CHilDren (IN daY nUrserIeS and nuRSery schooLs in pArtIcuLAr) fRom their taxable incoMe up To an aNNual MaXiMum of dm 600 Or dm 1200 dEPeNding oN whetheR tHE income of A sINglE parent or THAt of a marRied coUple was InVoLvED mAjor aDDItiOnS weRe aLSO mAde to THe regUlationS on daNgerOUs subsTaNces whilE compReHeNSiVe new rEGulaTioNs ConceRning InsTaLLatioNs rEquiriNg sUpervisiON Were introDuCeD the feDeraL MinistrY foR youth familY Affairs and heAltH Gave partICulAR attentIoN To asSiStIng pARents IN ASsuminG their edUcATiOnal reSPonsibilIties TOwaRds THEir cHildRen FoR inStance spEcIal 'LetTErs to pAreNtS' weRe disTRIbuTed Free OF Charge TO paREnts Of ChIldRen unDeR 8 wiTH sOMe 3 miLLIon seNT IN 1979 a deTErmiNED eFFort wAs also maDe tO proviDe betteR eDUcatiOn fOR soCiaLLy diSadvaNTaGEd cHiLdreN by supPoRtInG pilOT schemes and reSeaRch projeCtS publiC fUnds haD been allOcateD frOM 1979 onwArDs To a pilot scHemE eNtiTlEd 'AID to ChiLDren in NEed' uNder wHich childReN'S commUNIties Were seT up in BerlIN AnD GüteRslOh To proTecT and care FoR chIlDrEn whO HAd bEen Or Were at risk of beiNg iLl-TreateD by ThEIR paRENTS WhIle at the same tiME the Family EducaTIon anD aDViSOry servIces WERe aSsigNEd tHe Task of edUCAtINg these paRenTS