WIR programme of the state government

Since 2014, the state programme "WIR" has been making a significant contribution to the redefinition and further development of integration policy in Hessen through targeted professional and financial impulses.

Starting with the promotion of municipal coordination offices, through projects on a culture of welcome and recognition, to the promotion of diversity and integration strategies in Hessian municipalities, the state programme "WIR" offers a whole bundle of support measures. It is intended to focus on all citizens - with and without a migration background - as a target group and to further expand and consolidate the opportunities for participation already created in the Hessian districts and municipalities.

The main funding priorities of the state programme "WIR" are:

1. Promotion of WIR coordinators: Initiation and further development of the intercultural opening of regular municipal services as well as clubs and associations; development of a socio-spatial culture of welcome and recognition. The 33 districts, independent districts and special-status cities are eligible to apply.
2. Promotion of WIR case managers for refugees: overview of existing services for refugees and referral to the responsible offices; establishment of a pilot or mentor network at the municipal level; support for coordination between main and voluntary workers. The 33 districts, independent districts and special-status cities are eligible to apply.
3. Promotion of model projects to improve the participation of refugee women and girls: Low-threshold measures to promote the participation of women in all areas of social life and to strengthen integration opportunities. All municipalities, public, church and independent organisations as well as non-profit migrant organisations are eligible to apply.
4. Funding of model projects and projects to support the integration of immigrants from South Eastern Europe: Measures that implement pioneering and innovative approaches to improve the living situation and strengthen the social participation of immigrants from South Eastern Europe. Measures to promote the participation of the target group in the areas of social life and empowerment are also eligible for funding. All municipalities, public, church and independent organisations as well as non-profit migrant organisations are eligible to apply.
5. Promotion of non-profit migrant organisations: Support for micro-projects within the framework of the activities of migrant organisations, strengthening the structure of the association by hiring a 450€ employee and building networks with municipal established actors. All non-profit migrant organisations and municipalities in cooperation with them are eligible to apply.
6. Funding of projects on the culture of welcome and recognition or on intercultural opening as well as funding of projects with new innovative approaches. All municipalities, public, church and independent organisations as well as non-profit migrant organisations are eligible to apply.
7. Promotion of the qualification and deployment of volunteer integration guides: Promotion of the qualification and deployment of integration guides; now also in relation to work with refugees. All municipalities, public, church and independent organisations as well as non-profit migrant organisations are eligible to apply.
8. Support for voluntary lay interpreters: In 2018, appropriately trained volunteer lay interpreters will be supported via associations and municipalities with lay interpreter pools in Hesse. The aim is to provide linguistic support, especially for people with a refugee background, at appointments with authorities or in social institutions. You can find the exact modalities of the financial support and the application and framework conditions in the downloads on the right.
9. Provision of funding for the conceptual development of diversity and integration strategies in Hessian municipalities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg has been a member of the WIR programme since 2014 and has filled the positions of WIR coordination and WIR case management.

WIR coordination

• The ability to specifically adapt to everyday diversity in society must be continuously developed. Accompanying the district administration and social institutions in this process is the core task of the WIR coordination.

The following main tasks result from this:

• Intercultural opening of the district administration and social institutions such as clubs and associations
• Development of concepts for a socio-spatial culture of welcome and recognition
• Promotion and concept development of thematic projects
• Implement integration management as a basis for promoting dialogue and cooperation with different actors.
• Regularly organising and participating in coordination and working group meetings with voluntary and full-time coordinators as well as specialist events at district and national level.

WIR case management

The core task of the WIR case management is to provide refugees with an overview of the existing offers and to pass them on to the appropriate agencies. The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg concentrates on the area of integration into the labour and training market.

The following main tasks result from this:

• Development of concepts and measures for a transparent supply landscape
• Support and accompaniment in internships, training and employment relationships
• Support with the application process
• Contacting and advising employers in relation to the target group
• Planning and implementation of specialist days on the application process
• Precise placement in existing services in the district
• Cooperation with municipal actors in refugee work, participation in working groups, etc.

Further information:
www.integrationskompass.de