The Social and Family Policies Minister Fatma Betül Sayan-Kaya has announced on Tuesday the establishment of a consulting office in Berlin along with branch offices in four additional cities across Germany including Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart and Hamburg.

The move aims expand efforts to provide social welfare services to the Turkish populace in Germany through educational services, rehabilitation and consulting. The ministry established its branch office in the German city of Dusseldorf just last year.

With efforts to improve the social welfare of Turkish expats in the country, the ministry will also provide child protective services in the form of a foster parent system to be established through the offices outside of Turkey. The ministry noted that the Dusseldorf branch and the consulting office currently provides family services as well as social consulting, protection for women, services for persons with disabilities and the elderly, as well as adoption services.

Located in the city's Turkish Embassy, the Dusseldorf attaché currently staffs four mentors, one human resources personnel and a secretary.

Ministerial sources told Daily Sabah that the ministry also plans to implement these changes to offices located in other countries. The sources further noted that staff and personnel will handle specific cases for children and youth, families, the elderly, persons with disabilities and women, as well as social assistance.