In Western Uusimaa, families who need support are identified and reached – as many as 73% of Voimaperheet forms are returned to maternity and child health clinics
At Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County’s maternity and child health clinics, the return rate for screening forms on behavioural problems in four-year-old children has risen to around 73 per cent. Behind these strong results are clear practices: screening has been established as part of clinic visits, families can also complete the form during the appointment, and staff are trained in shared procedures. Public health nurse Viivi Sotamaa sees the Voimaperheet model as an important tool for the early identification of children’s behavioural challenges and for supporting families.
Viivi Sotamaa has worked in her current role at Aurora Maternity and Child Health Clinic in Espoo for around six years. According to Sotamaa, the most rewarding aspects of maternity and child health clinic work are meeting families and feeling that the work genuinely makes a difference.
“I find the work very meaningful. Maternity and child health clinic work is mainly positive, and our working days usually include several positive encounters. Preventive work is extremely important from a public health perspective.”
According to Sotamaa, the work requires broad professional expertise, as appointments cover a wide range of topics, from the child’s development to support for parenting. It is precisely this variety that makes the work meaningful.
Maternity and child health clinics also meet families where parenting is placing considerable strain on the parents. Sotamaa says that parents’ ability to cope is often reflected directly in the child’s behaviour.
“We sometimes see parental exhaustion, which can cause parents to lose consistency in how they raise the child. This, in turn, may increase the child’s behavioural problems.”
Shared clinic practices support the identification of children’s behavioural challenges
Screening for children’s behavioural problems is now an established part of four-year-old health checks at maternity and child health clinics in Western Uusimaa. In the Voimaperheet model, parents complete a screening form that is used to assess challenges related to the child’s behaviour.
According to Sotamaa, the model provides a concrete tool for maternity and child health clinic work.
“It is a structured and evidence-based model that supports parent guidance and strengthens families’ everyday lives.”
In practice, families usually bring the forms with them to the four-year-old health check. If the form has been forgotten at home, the process does not stop there.
“We give the family the form to complete during the clinic visit while we carry out tasks with the child that are part of the neurodevelopmental assessment.”
In Western Uusimaa, the return rate for screening forms has risen to a high level, around 73 per cent. According to Sotamaa, this success is based on clear and consistent procedures.
“The form has become an established part of the four-year-old appointment. Information about it has also been provided on the maternity and child health clinic website, and new forms are given to families to take home when needed.”
Staff also have clear documentation practices and standard phrases that make day-to-day work easier. New employees are carefully trained in the model.
Families are encouraged to complete the forms by explaining that concrete help is available if any challenges emerge.
“Parents usually accept help if there is a need for it.”
Discussion makes behavioural problems easier to identify
According to Sotamaa, children’s behavioural challenges often do not show up clearly during a short maternity and child health clinic appointment. This is why cooperation with early childhood education and care and with parents is important.
Before the clinic appointment, early childhood education and care provides advance information about the child. The form is completed together with the parents, and it reflects observations from both the guardians and early childhood education and care.
“This helps us identify possible challenges in advance,” Sotamaa says.
According to Sotamaa, the Voimaperheet model has made the identification of behavioural problems significantly clearer.
“Going through the form prompts discussion and helps us understand more precisely what kinds of challenges are involved.”
Parents generally respond positively to the screening.
“In my experience, parents have found it positive that the questions are specific and cover many different areas.”
The Voimaperheet programme provides practical help in everyday life
According to Viivi Sotamaa, the feedback received on Voimaperheet parent guidance has also been encouraging. Families have said that the programme has given them concrete tools for challenging situations and a greater sense of control in their daily lives.
One comment from a family has particularly stayed with Sotamaa.
“At the five-year-old appointment, they told us that the child’s challenging behaviour had previously placed a significant strain on everyday life. Through the programme, they found new ways of doing things, and everyday life began to run more smoothly.”
Sotamaa has a clear message for other maternity and child health clinics: shared, agreed practices work. When the screening form is made a natural part of the clinic appointment and families are told in concrete terms about the support available, family participation also increases.
“I believe that many families struggling with a child’s behavioural challenges are happy to accept support.”
- Maternity and child health clinics