Services: Family support must be built around everyday life

Family support services should be built around daily life, with schools and daycares serving as central points for assistance, according to an opinion piece in Helsingin Sanomat. The author, Päivi Varonen, a project manager, and Päivi Lindberg, a leading expert from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, suggest that these institutions could become community hubs offering cross-sectoral services.

This approach aims to make support more accessible by meeting families where they are, thereby lowering the threshold for seeking help. Viewing kindergartens and schools as more than just educational facilities, but as social institutions where families can receive services and engage in community activities, is key. The authors emphasize that the best solutions arise from listening to parents, who understand their own needs and what constitutes a good environment for their children.

By connecting parents, the initiative seeks to strengthen community spirit and reduce conflict, fostering a collaborative environment where solutions to everyday problems can be found together. This also creates space for sharing joy. The "Power in Parenthood" project, co-funded by the European Union, is developing a model for adequate parenting support based on parents' needs, focusing on a positive and empowering perspective on raising children.