Child welfare services

Child welfare services support parents and other guardians in raising a child when the family is experiencing a crisis or is under severe strain. We always aim to help the child and the family so that the child can continue living at home with the family. If this is not possible, the child or young person may be placed outside the home for a short or longer period.

On this website

What is child welfare?

On this page, we explain what child welfare means, what services it includes, how you can access child welfare services, and how you can submit a child welfare notification.

Child welfare notification

A child welfare notification informs a child welfare social worker of a child who may need help. Here you can find out how to make the notification and what happens afterwards.

Being a child welfare client

A child or family becomes a child welfare client if the service needs assessment for families with children finds that the child or family needs child welfare services. We provide information about diverse services that we offer to child welfare clients.

During care proceedings

The purpose of child welfare services is to protect the rights of children. Care proceedings are the last resort to secure the child’s growth and development. Here we will tell you more about care proceedings and places of care.

A young person becoming independent

Child welfare after-care helps the child or young person even after the end of the child welfare client relationship. Read more about after-care here.

I want to help a child who is a child welfare client

Would you like to become a support person for a child or young person? Would your family like to be a support family or a short-term foster family? Children need your valuable help and, by helping others, you also help yourself.

Contact us if you are worried about a child or a young person

You can file a child welfare notification in the Maisa service, using a form or by phone.

Emergency number for customers to call: +358 9 310 62040 (Link starts a phone call)

Emergency number for authorities to call: +358 9 310 62 066 (Link starts a phone call)

The emergency numbers are available on weekdays between 8.15 and 16.00. In the evenings and at weekends, if the case is urgent, you can file a child welfare notification by calling the emergency social services.

See contact information for the emergency social services

Does your family or child need help?

Your concerns may be related to stressful everyday life or troubles in parenting, for example. Please, do not hesitate to contact us.

Information elsewhere

Child welfare (Omaperhe)

The purpose of the Child Welfare Act is to ensure a child’s right to a safe environment, balanced and diverse development and special protection.  The Omaperhe website contains more information about child welfare.

Hyvä kysymys (Väestöliitto)

The Hyvä kysymys (‘Good Question’) online service provides young people with information and support when they have questions concerning anything and everything.

Poikien Puhelin – Helpline for boys (Väestöliitto)

Maintained by Väestöliitto (Family Federation of Finland), Poikien Puhelin is a free telephone helpline and chat service for boys and young men between 13 and 19 years of age. You can talk to an expert about anything that is on your mind or worries you.

You might also be interested in

Support for parenting and daily life in a family

The family counselling clinic, home services for families with children, couples therapy, and other services will help when you are in need of support in your family’s everyday life or find yourself in a straining situation.

Domestic violence

If you are concerned or frightened by your own behaviour or that of a family member, you should seek help.

Separation in a family with children

Going through a separation is often complicated, and you may feel unsure about what to do next. It is a good idea to seek outside professional help at some point during your separation.

Social services guidance for families with children

You can contact us at a low threshold when you are in need of help with upbringing issues, parenting challenges or straining daily life. You need not know in advance what kind of help your family would benefit from.

Service needs assessment and support for families with children

If your family is in a seriously straining life situation and you think that your child and family are in need of support, contact the service needs assessment unit for families with children in your area.

Lastensuojeluinfo

The lastensuojelu.info website provides basic information on services for families with children in Finland in several languages. The website is aimed specifically at immigrant parents and professionals who work with them.

You can also find this page at hel.fi/child-welfare-services.