Erziehungsberatung in Frankfurt: Which of the City's 14 Counseling Centers to Call First
Frankfurt runs Erziehungsberatung, free parenting and family counseling, through a network of 14 Erziehungsberatungsstellen spread across the city's districts, from Bergen-Enkheim and Bockenheim to Bornheim, Sachsenhausen, Höchst, and Westend, according to the city's own frankfurt.de listing. The network is a genuine mix of providers: some centers, like the Kinder-, Jugend- und Elternberatung in Gallus, are run directly by the city, while others are operated by independent or church-affiliated organizations, Caritas runs centers including Eltern- und Jugendberatung Nordweststadt and Eltern- und Jugendberatung Stadtmitte, and Diakonie operates its own locations too. One shared directory, ebffm.de, covers the whole Frankfurter Erziehungsberatungsstellen network regardless of which organization runs a given center, making it the practical starting point rather than trying to identify the right provider yourself first. The underlying service is the same wherever you land: free, confidential counseling for parents, and directly for children or teenagers on their own behalf too, generally without needing a referral or a prior diagnosis. What genuinely varies is the individual center itself, so it's worth calling the one closest to you or matching your family's specific situation, rather than assuming any location works identically to another.
The Official Rule
Frankfurt doesn’t run Erziehungsberatung, free parenting and family counseling, out of one central office, it runs a genuine network spread across the city’s districts, and knowing that upfront saves a newcomer family from assuming there’s a single correct place to call.
The city’s own listing puts the network at 14 Erziehungsberatungsstellen, reaching districts across Frankfurt. According to frankfurt.de’s official page, these centers are spread through areas including Bergen-Enkheim, Bockenheim, Bornheim, Eschersheim, Gallus, Goldstein, Höchst, Nordend, Nordweststadt, Preungesheim, Rödelheim, Sachsenhausen, Stadtmitte, and Westend, services are confidential and free of charge for parents, guardians, children, adolescents, and young adults.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of centers | 14, spread across Frankfurt's districts |
| Who runs them | A mix of city-run centers and independent or church-affiliated providers |
| Shared directory | ebffm.de, covering the whole network regardless of provider |
| Cost | Free and confidential everywhere in the network |
| Referral needed? | No, open directly to parents and to children or teenagers on their own |
The network is a genuine mix of who actually runs each center, not one single organization. Some centers operate directly under the city, the Kinder-, Jugend- und Elternberatung in Gallus is one example, while others are run by independent or church-affiliated organizations. Caritasverband Frankfurt runs several locations itself, including Eltern- und Jugendberatung Nordweststadt and Eltern- und Jugendberatung Stadtmitte, and Diakonie operates its own centers elsewhere in the network too. The underlying service and its cost to families stay the same across this mix, what differs is simply the organization behind a given address.
One shared directory makes it unnecessary to figure out which organization runs which center before you can find the right one. ebffm.de lists the Frankfurter Erziehungsberatungsstellen network as a whole, regardless of whether a specific location is city-run, Caritas-run, Diakonie-run, or run by another provider. That makes it the practical starting point for finding a center near you or matched to your family’s situation, rather than researching each organization’s own website separately.
Beyond the individual centers, the city’s Jugend- und Sozialamt runs a general hotline for parenting questions that don’t need a specific center yet. This is a reasonable first call if you have a general question or aren’t sure yet which of the 14 centers best fits your family’s situation, before committing to an appointment at a specific Erziehungsberatungsstelle.
Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr. on Pexels
What Real People Say
Parents new to Frankfurt describe some initial confusion about the mix of city-run and independent centers, several mention checking ebffm.de once they realized it covered the whole network rather than trying to compare Caritas, Diakonie, and city-run pages separately.
Families who’ve actually used Erziehungsberatung describe the specific center mattering more than which organization runs it, several mention that a center’s particular focus or program, rather than its funding structure, was what actually shaped their experience once they got an appointment.
Step by Step
- Start with ebffm.de, the shared directory covering all 14 centers in Frankfurt’s network regardless of who runs them.
- Look for a center in or near your own district, from Bergen-Enkheim to Westend, the network is spread specifically so families don’t need to travel across the city.
- Don’t worry about whether a center is city-run or independently operated, the service is free and confidential either way.
- If you’re not sure where to start, call the Jugend- und Sozialamt’s general parent hotline first, for a general question before committing to a specific center.
- Contact the center directly, no referral or prior diagnosis is needed to reach out as a parent, or for a child or teenager to reach out on their own.
Compliance Note
This page explains the general structure of Frankfurt’s Erziehungsberatung network, current as of mid-2026. It is not a substitute for professional counseling advice, and specific programs, wait times, and languages offered vary by individual center. Confirm current details directly with the center you plan to contact or through ebffm.de.
FAQ & Common Pitfalls
Do we need a referral from our Kinderarzt or a diagnosis to use Erziehungsberatung?
No. Erziehungsberatung is designed as an open, low-barrier service, families and even children or teenagers on their own can reach out directly to a center without a referral from a doctor or a prior diagnosis of any kind.
Is Erziehungsberatung actually free everywhere in Frankfurt, or does it depend on which center we pick?
It's free and confidential across the whole network, regardless of whether the specific center is city-run or operated by an independent or church-affiliated organization like Caritas or Diakonie. The funding model differs behind the scenes, but the cost to a family doesn't.
How do we actually find the right center for our family among 14 options?
Start with ebffm.de, the shared directory covering Frankfurt's whole Erziehungsberatungsstellen network. It lists every center regardless of provider, which makes it easier to find one close to your district or matched to your family's specific situation than trying to research each organization separately.
Is there a general number to call if we just have a quick question and aren't sure which center to contact yet?
Yes, the city's Jugend- und Sozialamt runs a general parent hotline for exactly this kind of initial question, separate from booking an appointment at a specific Erziehungsberatungsstelle. It's a reasonable first call if you're not yet sure which center fits your situation.