County elections 2025 objectives

​​Services must meet the needs of intercultural families and couples throughout their entire life cycle. Both parents must be considered, not just the Finnish-born parent, and active efforts must be made to overcome potential language barriers.
Services must be provided equally to all people living in Finland, ensuring that no one is excluded from public services due to their language skills or other characteristics. It is particularly important for the wellbeing services counties to invest in developing and organizing services for families with children. Services for children must respect children's rights, including the prohibition of discrimination, the primacy of the child's best interests, the right to development, and the right to be heard and have their views respected. Ensuring these rights is essential for the development of a child’s identity and personality.
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1. Recognizing the Specific Needs of Intercultural Families in Child and Family Services
2. Access to Comprehensive Healthcare and Wellbeing Services is Vital for Multicultural Families
3. The Diverse Life Situations of Intercultural Families Must be Considered in Decision-Making, Structures, and Practices​

1. Recognizing the Specific Needs of Intercultural Families in Child and Family Services

• The development of all home languages of bilingual or multilingual children must be supported in services, and information must be effectively communicated to all parents, regardless of their language skills.
• Family coaching in maternity and child health clinics must be offered in English.
• Staff in family centers must be trained regularly to ensure knowledge of the unique characteristics of intercultural families and a culturally sensitive approach.
• The voices of people living in intercultural families must be heard in the development and organization of services.

2. Access to Comprehensive Healthcare and Wellbeing Services is Vital for Multicultural Families

• Wellbeing services counties must ensure that healthcare and social services incorporate cultural sensitivity and multilingual support.
• Easily accessible mental health services, such as counseling and peer support groups, must be provided for intercultural families, either directly by the wellbeing services counties or in cooperation with the third sector.
• Health education programs that consider cultural differences and promote healthy lifestyles in multicultural communities must be implemented.
• Wellbeing services counties must guarantee access to pregnancy and childbirth-related care, as well as healthcare services for minors, including those who are undocumented.

3.  The Diverse Life Situations of Intercultural Families Must be Considered in Decision-Making, Structures, and Practices

• All public and outsourced services within wellbeing services counties must incorporate cultural sensitivity and anti-racism expertise.
• Wellbeing services counties should utilize third-sector services when they cannot meet service needs themselves.
• Interpretation services must be available for all residents in official interactions with authorities.
• Targeted communication and personalized service guidance must be prioritized to improve accessibility and effectiveness of services.

more information

• Familia's goals for the elections - full document (pdf)