Everyday support services for families with children

Parenting and family counselling is available to households with children and young people aged 0–17. In addition, the family counselling centre offers support for expectant parents and families with infants under one year old. 

Contact the Social Services Guidance for Families with Children (see above), if:

• pregnancy is evoking conflicting feelings, fear or anxiety in you
• you are unsure of your parenthood
• you have concerns about your child’s development, behaviour or social relationships
• there have been changes in your family’s situation or your family has experienced loss
• you would like to discuss the relationships between family members
• there are recurring conflicts at home
• your family has experienced violence or a threat of violence and you need support to recover
• you would like help related to your relationship or the end of a relationship
• you need support for co-parenting or the relationships in a stepfamily

The consent of both guardians is required for a child’s customer relationship. The service is confidential, but with your consent, we can also work with other parties who are involved in matters related to your family. Conversations with us are voluntary.

Parenting and family counselling is free of charge.

Our services provide conversational support and guidance for parenting, for example:

• related to raising children
• for challenges related to interaction between family members
• to strengthen the management of everyday routines at home
• for activating your family’s social networks to support your child and all of your family.

If your family’s situation is stressful and you need more robust support, we will help you assess the need for various services and coordinate support measures.

The services are intended for families with children under the age of 18. The consent of both guardians is required for working with children under the age of 18.

You can get help and support from the home service for families with children by contacting Social Services Guidance for Families with Children (see above), if your family has children under the age of 18 and, for example,

• reduced functional capacity due to childbirth, illness, injury, disability or other similar reason, such as exhaustion
• an ongoing crisis or otherwise challenging life situation
• other special life situation, such as a multiple birth or a disabled child.

Please note that home service is not granted solely because of the need for cleaning, falling ill (head colds etc.), working from home or a parent going to work, or studying, hobbies or transport.

Home service is always temporary, and the need for the service is assessed while working with you.

Home service is subject to a fee. The initial assessment visit for home service at the client’s home is free of charge. You can find more information about the client fee for home services here: Client fees for social welfare and health care services

The client fee may be reduced or waived on certain grounds, read more: Reduction or exemption of client fees in health and social services

If a child or young person in your family needs special support, your child and family can get a support person or support family. A social worker will assess the need for the service together with you before arranging a support family or a support person.

Support relationship activities are systematic, guided and goal-oriented volunteer activities that promote the well-being of children and young people and support their growth and development.

A support person will meet your child for about a couple of hours every 1–2 weeks.

In a support family, your child will spend one weekend per month with the support family.

Support persons and families are volunteers who have been evaluated to be suitable for the task: they are adults with a balanced life and no criminal background. They have received training for support relationship activities. They have a duty of confidentiality, which persists even after the end of the activities.

Would you like to become a support family or support person? Read more here

Our open and low-threshold meeting place activities are intended for all kinds of families, children and young people. At the meeting place, you will find peer support and a place to chat and play with others. The meeting place is attended by workers from different organisations and the parish as well as by the professionals of the family centre and the municipality.

Read more about meeting place activities