Family Centre: Secure Western Uusimaa
Family Centre Series: Part 2.
Text: Teija Varis
Human security is a concept developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and launched in 1994. It aims to promote security thinking among individuals. But what does that mean in practice?
According to Johanna Linner Matikka, family centre coordinator of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County working on her doctoral dissertation at the University of Eastern Finland, security has traditionally been addressed from the perspective of foreign policy, conflicts or preparedness for various pandemics and disasters.
“In addition to traditional security thinking, human security recognises the importance of the perceived security in the everyday lives of individuals and communities as a building block of a stable society,” she explains.
Human security is also part of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) human dimension, which covers the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, as well as the safeguarding of human and fundamental rights.
“Important themes include gender equality, minority rights, freedom of expression and the role of civil society. The promotion of human security is channelled into multidisciplinary development aimed at promoting and supporting the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Agenda 2030,” Linner Matikka continues.
According to her, security is an individual experience but, in many respects, also a universal, basic human need.
“The experience of security includes the opportunity to satisfy one’s basic needs, such as sufficient nutrition, rest and safe housing. Good human relations are particularly important. In other words, whether they are safe to me, whether I am able to rely on something in my time of trouble, and whether I am allowed to be myself without the fear being abandoned, abused or bullied.”
Security in client encounters at family centres
According to Linner Matikka, insecurity is not always visible from the outside. Signs of insecurity may include restlessness, aggression and distrusting others and the world.
“When working with clients, the most important thing is to signal security by communicating openly, speaking calmly and clearly as well as looking at them through the lens of kindness. Even agitated clients usually calm down when the professional stays calm and secure in themselves.”
Insecurity may stem from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which according to Linner Matikka can be roughly divided into three categories.
“These include psychological and/or physical violence against the child, sexually offensive acts, neglecting the child, including inadequate care, protection and guidance, and psychosocial problems related to the family in which the child grew up, such as a parent’s heavy substance abuse or serious mental health problem, suicide or separation from a parent, for example due to a criminal sanction.”
Linner Matikka points out that not all painful and harmful experiences automatically leave permanent scars or cause psychological trauma in those who experience them. The consequences of harmful experiences depend on “protective factors” and the individual’s temperament, for instance.
“Resilience, or the ability to tolerate and recover from very difficult and stressful experiences, is promoted by support provided by other safe people. For example, support from a gentle and encouraging teacher or grandparent may be crucial for the child. If difficult circumstances, such as domestic violence, persist for a long time and the child has to experience fear alone in these situations, long-term negative impacts are likely to occur,” she says.
Linner Matikka talks about the importance of a trauma-informed approach to work and encounters.
“In a nutshell, a trauma-informed approach to work involves encountering human suffering with compassion both in oneself and in others. It encompasses the identification of, intervention in and response to factors that cause ill-being. It involves improving protective factors and promoting security in client work, the work community and society at large. A trauma-informed approach to work relies heavily on the promotion of fundamental and human rights.”
Family centres support clients experiencing insecurity, ill-being and violence
In the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, the family centre model refers to a network of local services for children and families through which families with children receive comprehensive support at the right time.
The goal of multidisciplinary cooperation is to avoid guiding clients from one service to another.
“Mental health problems, violence and insecurity are broad phenomena that everyone working with people will encounter. There are no certain professionals or a certain actor whose job it is to address these themes.”
According to Linner Matikka, insecure, ill-being and violent clients should be encountered in the location where they first bring up the matter and offered appropriate help in cooperation with other professional, if necessary.
“Abandoning them or dismissing a painful issue increases the client’s insecurity. Professionals must always try to avoid this. It is always worth considering how you would like to be encountered if you were in a similar situation,” she says.
Who?
Johanna Linner Matikka
- Acts as family centre coordinator in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
- Works as a part-time researcher at the University of Turku. Her dissertation focusses on recovering from close relationship violence.
- Has edited the book ‘Traumainformoitu työote’ (PS-kustannus 2023).
- Trains hundreds of professionals on the theme each year.
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This article is part of our series on family centres. In this series, we will explore the services and activities that Western Uusimaa family centres offer to families with children.
- Family centre