Family work provides systematic and comprehensive support to families with children.
The need for support is often detected at maternity clinic or child health clinic, in day care or in connection with the assessment of a need for services. The family can also contact family work themselves.
The basic task of family work is to support families’ life management and the use of their own resources. The family is helped by giving advice on challenges appearing at different stages of children’s lives. Group activities can also be offered to families. As a rule, family work is carried out at the family home.
In practice, family work means talking with family members, reflecting on things together, and guiding the family members.
Family work can be related to issues such as:
- supporting parenthood
- instructing in the care and upbringing of children
- managing everyday life and routines at home
- strengthening the functional capacity of the family
- supporting the parents’ mutual relationship and family interaction skills
- expanding social networks
- prevention of exclusion.
Early support family work is carried out within a limited theme, and the work is of a short-term nature.
In the case of families with children in need of special support, family work is granted on the basis of an assessment of a need for services. In this case, the family’s situation is often more complex, and the challenges are tackled in a long-term and multiprofessional manner.
With the family’s permission, family workers may also co-operate with the family’s networks, such as maternity and child health clinics, day care, school and social services.
Intensified family work can also be offered as a support measure in child welfare open care. Intensified family work is a family work service intended for child welfare clients.
You can also talk to a family worker remotely
Do you have concerns over your child’s behaviour? Are you exhausted by everyday life? Do you have concerns over the relationship with your spouse?
Discuss matters related to your family’s everyday life with an expert in the chat service easily, with a low threshold.
With a family worker, you can discuss issues such as being a parent, the child’s growth and development, interaction problems or the parents’ relationship. You don’t have to be alone with your thoughts. The remote appointment service in family work is advice and guidance in accordance with the Social Welfare Act.
The discussions are confidential and free of charge for all families with children.
Click here, select the icon from the bottom right, select "Chatbot Helpotti", select "Keskustele ammattilaisen kanssa", select "Perhetyöntekijä".
For whom?
For families with children and persons expecting a child.
What you should do
Early support family work
Contact service guidance for early support family work. Other family work services are available through a social worker.