Apply for a support family or support person
- Service
- 8 municipalities
- Public service
A support person or support family can be arranged for a child when there are challenges and need for support in the child’s own family, and the natural support network is unable to provide sufficient support for the child and family. The aim when organizing a support family or support person is to help a child or siblings and their families and to ensure the health and development of the child.
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Do the following
The granting of a support person or support family requires a social welfare customership. When it comes to a child who is already a social welfare customer, a support person or support family is applied for by filling out an application together with one’s own contact person.
If the child is not a social welfare customer, you must contact the authority responsible for social welfare through Soite’s Omapalvelu service.
Background information
A support person or family may be arranged for a child in need of special support and the child’s family. The child does not need to be a client of child welfare services in order to be assigned a support person.
Both support person and support family activities are tailored to the individual needs of the child and their family. The support person meets the child for a couple of hours every one to two weeks, and during their meetings, they pursue mutual activities or hobbies together. In support family activities, the child can, for example, spend one weekend a month with the support family.
The support person or family is paid a fee, and their expenses are reimbursed. Training is available for these roles. Support persons and families are bound by a duty non-disclosure that continues even after they cease their activities.
The Social Welfare Act