Policy programme for the well-being of children, youth and families
Programme as set out in the Government Programme of Vanhanen's second Cabinet 19.4.2007
The best security for the ageing population in Finland is provided by healthy and happy children and young people. It is advisable to invest in the well-being of children, young people and families. The Government’s goal is to achieve a more child-friendly Finland.
The objective of the policy programme to promote the well-being of children, youth and families is to prevent and alleviate ill-health and social exclusion. Most of the risks associated with growth and development are identifiable in early childhood. Resources to secure the sound and secure development of children and the youth, and the well-being of families will be made available in the various sectors. The foundations for health and sound social relationships are laid in childhood and youth.
A range of measures will be taken to reinforce a sense of community, parenthood and mutual responsibility for the well-being of children and the youth. Steps will be taken to improve the well-being of families with children by improving their financial position and services. Due consideration will be given to the challenges presented by multiculturalism in the services provided to children, young people and families.
In cases of problems related to children and families, intervention at an earlier date than today is to be encouraged; the goal is to reduce the need for corrective special services. Accordingly, early intervention and preventive actions will be the priority. At the same time, these measures are expected to reduce the cost of social exclusion.
To promote the well-being of children and the youth, concerted efforts are called for in the various fields of activity. To accomplish this, it will be necessary to improve cooperation and coordination between the individual sectors of administration and to develop multiprofessional cooperation regionally.
Efforts will be made to develop the statistics for monitoring the well-being of children and young people, to foresee the implications of the decisions related to children, and to disseminate information on children’s rights.
The basis for the policy programme transcending the boundaries between administrative sectors will be provided by the Development Programme for Child and Youth Policy to be adopted by the Government by the end of 2007 in accordance with the Youth Act. The policy programme will both monitor and support the implementation of this first Development Programme for Child and Youth Policy during the electoral period. All the ministries will be involved in the preparation of the development programme.
Specifically, consideration in the programme will be given to the following points:
- early identification of the risk of social exclusion and ill-health of children and youth
- reduction in the need of foster care for children and the youth
- reduction in the differences in the state of the health of children and the youth across social classes and the promotion of healthy lifestyles and mental health
- improvements in the well-being, financial position and services of families with children
- support for parenthood and reinforcing the sense of community
- education and employment of the youth
- promotion of the civic skills, involvement, free-time pursuits and participation of children and the youth
- improvements in the living conditions of children and the youth, with special focus on gaining more information on child poverty
- evaluation of decisions and resolutions in terms of their implications for children
- dissemination of information on the rights of children.