Skip to content      

Further information about child and family services

Child and family services and family support are provided for by legislation defining people's entitlement to receive services and their quality. The municipalities are responsible for the practical organisation of services. The state takes part in the funding of services through subsidies paid to the municipalities. The National Pension Institution is responsible for handling and paying family benefits.

Child and family services form an administrative entity of municipal social, health and education activities. If you have questions and concerns related to the use of services, it is best to take up the matter with your own municipality. Contact should first be made with the relevant healthcare, social service department or school. In the final resort, contact can be made at municipal level with an executive official (educational affairs director or a health and social security director) or other official (educational board or health and social security board member).


Social services and benefits

All residents in Finland are entitled to social care, according to their needs. Social care includes social services and benefits and final resort income support. An effort is made to ensure that each population group has sufficient and high level services.

The municipalities are responsible for organising social services and granting income support. Services include such things as child day care, care support for small children, child welfare, disability services and treatment for substance abusers. You can find out more about services from municipal social welfare departments.


Primary education

Municipalities are responsible for organising primary education.

The National Board of Education has ratified the new curricular foundation for grades 1-9. You can find out more about the curricular basis of your municipality and school from your school.

The relevant section of the curriculum dealing with the care of school learners is drawn up together with municipal social and health authorities. Measures are to be written in to the local school curriculum concerning such things as dealing with crises, bullying and the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol use.

 

Rights of clients receiving social care

The law on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients contains principles concerning client participation, treatment and legal protection.

Clients are always entitled to receive decisions concerning them in writing. They are also informed about how to appeal decisions.

Each municipality has to have a social welfare ombudsman, who covers both the public and private sectors. The social welfare ombudsman advises clients about the application of the law in matters related to their social welfare. The social welfare ombudsman can also assist clients should they wish to file a compliant about their treatment.


Patients' rights

Legal protection for patients is provided by the law on Rights and Status of Patients, which covers all health services available from healthcare and social care facilities.

Each healthcare unit has its own patients' ombudsman, who provides information on patients' rights, and if needed will help file complaints, appeals or claims for compensation concerning mistakes made during treatment.


State Provincial Offices

The guidance and monitoring of municipally organised social and health services and of teaching and school services are carried out by the State Provincial Offices. These provincial administrations provide advice and guidance. You can also file complaints if you are dissatisfied with your local social or education services.


Administrative courts

The constitution requires that each public sector activity follows the law. A person or group of people who feel that a state or municipal official decision has contravened the law can lodge a compliant about the decision.

When dealing with decisions, officials have to make clear how and to whom you can complain. Often, decisions can be amended. If afterwards you are still dissatisfied with the outcome you can complain to an administrative court.


Legal guidance

The nationwide service number 0100 86200 gives legal advice during weekdays from 09.00 - 15.00. (6 cents a minute + local network or cell phone charges). The phone service does not provide answers to legal problems, rather advice about who to approach to deal with them.