Child care

Society supports families and children financially and through a variety of services. Local authorities are responsible for providing municipal day care for everyone who wants the service. Every child under school age has the right to day care provided by the local authority either in a day care centre or in family day care. Local authorities and KELA can provide advice on financial support for families.

Child daycare and support for caring for small children

All children below school age are entitled to receive municipal daycare. One of the parents of a child aged under three can remain at home on child care leave without losing his or her job. Both parents cannot be on child care leave at the same time. KELA grants financial assistance for caring for children at home. Financial assistance is also available for private care if a child under school age is cared for by a private day care provider.

• Family leave
  Information about family leaves: maternity, special maternity, paternity and parental leave and childcare leave.
  
  http://www.tem.fi/?l=en&s=2386
  Ministry of Employment and the Economy
• Municipal day care and preschool education
  Children below school age are entitled to receive municipal day care according to the needs of the family. Before beginning primary school children can take part in preschool education.
  
  http://www.stm.fi/en/social_and_health_services/children/services
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• Subsidies for caring for small children
  Information about child home care allowance and private daycare allowance.
  
  http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english.nsf/NET/081101131410EH?openDocument
  Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela
• Ill or disabled children
  Compensation for costs relating to the care of a chronically ill or disabled child.
  
  http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english.nsf/NET/150502163616EH?openDocument
  Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela
• Varttua - a web service for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
  Information and usefull links about early childhood education and care. Discussion group.
  
  http://varttua.stakes.fi/EN/index.htm
  National Institute for Health and Welfare THL

Single parenting and maintenance obligations

Single parents live and look after their children without the support of the other parent. Both parents, irrespective of whether they are single parents, are responsible for the maintenance of the child. If a parent living elsewhere does not provide maintenance for the child in any way, maintenance allowance can be approved for the child. Granting maintenance support is carried out either by agreement between the parents or by a court order. Children have the right to maintenance support, if the parent liable for maintenance is not able to pay. Single parents can receive help from the authorities and relevant organisations if necessary.

• Child maintenance and support
  Children have the right to adequate maintenance that corresponds to the ability of parents to provide for them.
  
  http://www.stm.fi/en/social_and_health_services/children/services
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Family care

People in family care live and receive care in a private home outside their own home environment. Children, young people, the disabled, those with long-term illnesses, patients with mental health problems or the elderly can be placed in family care. Local social services can provide more information on family care. Children and young people taken into care by the Social Welfare Board account for the greatest number of people in family care.

• Private family care
  Information about the private family care, i.e. the round the clock care provided to someone in a private home outside their own home environment.
  
  http://www.stm.fi/en/social_and_health_services/social_services
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Clubs and parental activity at schools

• Parents' Association
  Advice and information for parents' associations in schools.
  
  http://www.suomenvanhempainliitto.fi/finnish_parents_association/?session=97051658
  Finnish Parents' Association

Temporary help with child care

• Babysitters
  Short term child care service in certain municipalities in Finland. Families employ the babysitters.
  
  http://www.mll.fi/en/short_term_child_care_services/
  Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
• Temporary child care
  Service is available in the Helsinki metropolitan area and the surrounding municipalities.
  
  http://www.vaestoliitto.fi/in_english/family_services/for_parents/child_care/
  Väestöliitto

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