County elections 2025 objectives

www.familiary.fi/county#1elections-25.html​​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.​

1. Child and family services must be aware of the special needs of intercultural families.
2. Intercultural families must have access to comprehensive healthcare and wellbeing services. 
3. Wellbeing services counties must consider the diverse life situations of intercultural families in decision-making, structures, and practices.
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1. Child and family services must be aware of the special needs of intercultural families.​

• 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 centres 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. Intercultural families must have access to comprehensive healthcare and wellbeing services.

• Wellbeing services counties must ensure that healthcare and social services incorporate cultural sensitivity and multilingual support.
• Wellbeing services counties must provide easily accessible mental health services for intercultural families, such as counselling and peer support groups, either independently or in collaboration 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.  Wellbeing services counties must consider the diverse life situations of intercultural families 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.
• Authorities must provide interpretation services for all residents in official interactions.
• Authorities must prioritize targeted communication and personalized service guidance to improve service accessibility and effectiveness.

more information

Familia's goals for the elections - fullfamilias_objectives_for_the_county_election_2025.pdf document (pdf)