profam

What profam does

proFam gGmbH is a Berlin-based non-profit social services organization that operates Erziehungsstellen — professional foster family placements in which qualified educators (Erzieher*innen, Heilpädagog*innen, or Diplom-Pädagog*innen) take children aged 0–14 into their own private homes for intensive pedagogical care. The organization functions as a licensed "freier Träger" (independent provider) of youth welfare, coordinating placements under the German SGB VIII framework (§27, §34, §35a) between youth authorities (Jugendämter), Erziehungsstellen families, and birth families. Children served typically present with trauma backgrounds, developmental needs, or social/emotional deficits, with caregiver-to-child ratios of 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 — a hybrid model that combines professional pedagogical expertise with a family-based environment distinct from standard foster care or institutional facilities.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in contracts with Berlin and Brandenburg Jugendämter, which commission and fund placements under statutory youth welfare provisions. proFam acts as the employer of record for Erziehungsstellen staff under full-time social-insured employment contracts; when two children are in care, the arrangement corresponds to a full-time employment relationship plus extensive supplementary benefits. Supporting services — monthly group supervision, individual/family supervision, continuing education, parent counseling (Elternberatung), and prospective-caregiver recruitment via Infoabend information evenings — are bundled into the placement offering.

The organization was founded in 2011 per its Impressum and celebrated 25 years of operation in 2026, suggesting a predecessor entity whose operating history the anniversary references. Ownership sits with Arbeitskreis zur Förderung von Pflegekindern e.V., a Berlin-registered non-profit association, with Peter Heinßen serving as Managing Director. Geographic operations are confined to Berlin and Brandenburg, and the technology stack is limited to standard office and communication tools — there is no proprietary platform. Co-founded vocational training infrastructure (PROCON College) and a local engagement with Pflegekinderservice Marzahn-Hellersdorf provide additional ecosystem depth.

Name

profam

Legal name

proFam gemeinnützige Gesellschaft für Soziales mbH

Website

https://profam.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

proFam gGmbH is a Berlin-based non-profit social services organization operating Erziehungsstellen — professional foster family placements where qualified educators provide intensive 1-to-2 ratio care to children aged 0–14 with trauma backgrounds, commissioned by Berlin and Brandenburg youth authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Social insurance employment compensation (Sozialversichertes Angestelltenverhältnis): Erziehungsstellen staff are directly employed by proFam (sozialversichertes Angestelltenverhältnis). When two children are taken in, the arrangement corresponds to a full-time insured employment relationship. Revenue is derived from contracts with youth authorities (Jugendämter) who commission and fund placements under SGB VIII provisions. proFam acts as the employer and coordinating entity, with funding flowing through statutory youth welfare.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

proFam operates Erziehungsstellen (professional educational family placements) for children aged 0–14 years in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. Qualified educators take children into their own private homes, providing intensive pedagogical care in a family environment while proFam acts as the employer, coordinator, and support provider. Youth authorities (Jugendämter) commission placements under SGB VIII provisions, with proFam managing the placement, supervision, training, and ongoing support of the care families.

Product overview

proFam operates as a non-profit social services organization providing Erziehungsstellen (educational family placement) services. The core offering is a foster care model that combines professional pedagogical expertise with family-based living arrangements. Educators (Erziehungsstellen) are employed by proFam and take in up to two children in their own homes, providing intensive care for children with traumatic backgrounds. Supporting services include regular team meetings, monthly group supervision, continuing education, info evenings for prospective applicants, and specialized parent counseling. The organization operates exclusively in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erziehungsstellen (Educational Family Placement Service) Professional foster family placement service combining institutional child welfare expertise (pädagogisches Fachpersonal) with family-based care. Qualified educators (Erzieher*innen, Heilpädagog*innen) employed by proFam take up to two children into their own homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 pedagogical support for children with traumatic backgrounds, developmental needs, or social/emotional deficits under SGB VIII §§ 27/34 or 35a.
• Elternberatung (Birth Family Counseling)

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• PROCON CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPROCON College is a vocational school for educators (Erzieher*in) in Berlin, operated by procon College gGmbH, which consists of two entities: contact – Jugendhilfe und Bildung gGmbH and proFam gGmbH. Both providers have long-standing experience and specialist expertise in the educational sector, including the delivery of systemic workshops, training, and continuing education for foster parents, specialists in child and youth welfare, and child day care providers. proFam is a co-founder and joint operator of this educational initiative.
• Pflegekinderservice Marzahn-HellersdorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pflegekinderservice Marzahn-Hellersdorf fulfills district-level tasks of the Pflegekinderdienst (foster child service), including advising prospective foster parents, mediating foster children, and supporting foster families in their daily work. proFam is actively engaged locally and provides support and advice to both the organization and foster families.
• Arbeitskreis zur Förderung von Pflegekindern e.V.minorOthersArbeitskreis zur Förderung von Pflegekindern e.V. (located at Stresemannstraße 78, 10963 Berlin) is the shareholder (Gesellschafter) of proFam gGmbH, providing organizational backing and governance oversight to the organization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SOS Kinderdorf: Germany's largest operator of family-based and village-style child welfare placements, running both professional foster-family programs (Erziehungsstellen-equivalent) and residential villages nationwide. Direct overlap in the hybrid professional-family care model that proFam specializes in, but at much larger national scale.
• Pfefferwerk Stadtkultur gGmbH: Berlin-based non-profit social services provider operating child and youth welfare programs including family-equivalent placements and pedagogical support services. Highly comparable given the same Berlin geography and similar freier Träger status serving Jugendamt-commissioned cases.
• INA gGmbH (Interkultureller Beratungs- und Therapieverein): Berlin-based non-profit offering specialized family counseling, child welfare, and pedagogical support services under SGB VIII commissioning. Comparable as a small-to-mid Berlin freier Träger serving similar Jugendamt-referred populations.
• Bethanien Kinderdorf: Diakonie-affiliated operator of Kinderdorf (children's village) and family-based care programs across multiple German states, providing residential and Erziehungsstelle-style placements under SGB VIII. Directly comparable service offering and target population.
• Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Landesverband Berlin: Berlin branch of Germany's leading child protection association, advising foster families, supporting Herkunftsfamilien, and coordinating with Jugendämter on placements. Operates overlapping child welfare and family support services in proFam's exact geography.

Regional players

• Stiftung Kinderschutz-Zentrum Berlin: Berlin-specific child protection foundation providing counseling, crisis intervention, and support for families involved in the Jugendhilfe system. Comparable in regional scope and target population, though focused more on family preservation than Erziehungsstelle placement.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: Germany's largest Protestant welfare federation, running a nationwide network of child and youth welfare services including Erziehungsstellen and foster-family programs through regional member organizations. Broad incumbent with direct program overlap.
• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare association with extensive youth welfare (Jugendhilfe) services including Erziehungsstellen, residential care, and family support. Competes for the same SGB VIII-commissioned placements but as part of a much broader social services portfolio.
• Evangelischer Erziehungsverband (EREV): Federal association of Protestant child and youth welfare providers in Germany, with member organizations running Erziehungsstellen, residential groups, and family support. Operates in the same SGB VIII-funded placement space as proFam.

Others

• Berufsverband Erziehungsstellen e.V. (BVE): Federal professional association for Erziehungsstellen operators in Germany. Functions as an industry/ecosystem body rather than a direct provider, but represents and supports providers using the same placement model proFam offers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/profam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about profam