Towards child and family-oriented services Katja Bergbacka, Project Manager

Towards child and family oriented and preventive services The Programme to address child and family services (LAPE) is one of the 26 key projects of Finnish Government Towards child and family oriented and preventive services The reform is carried out to promote child and family-oriented services and to create an operating culture strengthening children’s rights and a knowledge-based approach. The goal is to strengthen the wellbeing and resources of children, young people and families. An important premise is to increase participation among children, young people and families in planning their own services. Support for parenting and low-threshold services are strengthened. Timely support increases the effectiveness of services. Cost savings are achieved when the need for remedial services, such as taking children into care and institutional care, is reduced.

Principles guiding the reform programme The child’s rights and the child’s interest Diversity of families Strengthening the resources of children, young people and families Focus on children, young people and families

When the project ends, the goal is that decision-makers and professionals can encounter children and young people better than at present decision-makers and professionals are increasingly aware of childrens rights professionals cooperate better than at present adults take the opinions of children and young people into account in early childhood education, school, youth work, health services, child protection and in other social services decision-makers determine the impacts of their decisions on children before decisions are made more services are available online than at present.

Early childhood education and care, school and secondary education institution as support for well-being

The objectives Environments and communities in early childhood education and care, schools and secondary education institutions strengthen pupils' well-being, and the work in the community is systematic and goal-oriented by creating new operating models for student welfare in the new operating environment between the municipalities and the provinces by adding the sense of community and involvement in early childhood education and care, schools and secondary education institutions

The objectives Well-being is strengthened with the services individually tailored to the needs of the child or young person Good individual work is preventive, accessible, of high-quality, and child or youth-oriented. Early support at the correct time and, if necessary, with a cross-sectoral approach is available. More intense support and care is provided as outreach services realized at early childhood education and care, pre-primary education, schools and secondary education institutions, and the professionals at the basic level are supported with consultations.

How is the reform carried out? by strengthening the work related to well-being as well as developing its contents and operating procedures. by developing the contents and the practices of the student welfare services. by developing electronic services and introducing electronic working methods, as well as support for the early childhood education and care, pre-primary education, school and secondary education institutions. by identifying needs of lacking skills and organizing necessary training for the professionals.

As a result of the project Student welfare and the work related to well-being in early childhood education and care is consistent around the country. The work is goal-oriented and performed systematically, and the situation is evaluated periodically. The work is based on knowledge regarding the well-being, needs, environment and community of children and young people. The cross-sectoral student welfare groups for early childhood education and care, schools and secondary education institutions work with a goal-oriented and long-term approach, and pupils, students and parents participate in planning and implementing the collaborative work.

As a result of the project Children and young people have good social skills and bullying occurs rarely. The services are provided as a single, cross-sectoral, functional whole in the development environments. The services are customer-oriented and the work takes place in close cooperation with student welfare, teachers and specialized services. Children, young people and families participate in assessing and developing the services.

Thank you! Katja Bergbacka Project Manager