The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County offers the Voimaperheet parental guidance program for families with 3- and 4-year-old children
Starting from the beginning of 2023, the Voimaperheet (“Empowered Families”) intervention model developed by the University of Turku Research Centre for Child Psychiatry has been implemented in the maternity and child health clinics of Western Uusimaa. The model aims to identify behavioural problems in young children even before they reach school age. The model is the result of years of research and development, and it is based on digital preventive care.
The University of Turku Research Centre for Child Psychiatry will send a questionnaire form to families in Western Uusimaa during the month preceding the child's fourth birthday. The questionnaire is sent to all families whose child’s mother tongue is registered as either Finnish or Swedish in the population register. The questionnaire will assess the family’s possible need for psychosocial support. The family will fill out the form at home and bring it to the child’s four-year check-up at the maternity and child health clinic.
If the criteria for participation are met and the family considers the child to have behavioural problems that affect their daily life, the family will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Voimaperheet program. Participation takes place either online or via phone calls, making it possible to participate from home, for instance.
The family coach is in contact with the parent(s) on a weekly basis and supports the family in managing and solving difficult interactions and problems. Receiving an invitation to or participating in the program does not imply that the child has a behavioural disorder. The goal of the program is to have a preventive effect on the development of behaviour-related difficulties. Participation in the program is completely confidential.
Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 775 questionnaire forms have been sent to families in Western Uusimaa; and 365 forms have been returned during the four-year health check-ups. This adds up to a response rate of 47%. Out of the returned forms, 14% met the criteria for participation in the Voimaperheet program.
We heartily encourage families to fill out and return the questionnaire form. A new form can be obtained at the maternity and child health clinic if it is forgotten or lost before the four-year check-up.
This is what the Voimaperheet program is about:
The Voimaperheet program includes a universal parenting program called Ole läsnä lapsellesi (“Be present with your child”), which is suitable for anyone who wants to strengthen their parenting skills. For more information on the program and signing up, see the webpage for Western Uusimaa child health clinics Child health clinic | Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County (luvn.fi)(external link)
The Huomaa hyvä lapsessasi (“Notice the good in your child”) program is intended for parents of 4-year-old children. The Voimaperheet parent guidance program is offered to families when the criteria for participation are met based on the completed questionnaire form and when the parents feel that their child’s behaviour is causing stress in their everyday life. The Voimaperheet team at the University of Turku Research Centre for Child Psychiatry sends the questionnaire to families by mail and carries out the parental guidance program in its entirety.
Voimaperheet videos for families:
Ole läsnä lapsellesi video for families in Finnish(external link)
Ole läsnä lapsellesi video for families in Swedish(external link)
Digitalized Universal Positive Parent Training Intervention (Ole läsnä) (University of Turku)
Digitally Assisted Parent Training Intervention for Disruptive Behavior in 4-Year Old Children (Voimaperheet – Huomaa hyvä lapsessasi) (University of Turku)