Childhood and family

National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) annually collects data on children and young people in support interventions in community care and children and young people placed outside the home. Family-specific monitoring data has also been collected annually from the specific bodies responsible for the system of levelling high costs in child welfare. This data collection will take place for the last time in 2006. Data are also collected annually on child maintenance and custody. At about five-year intervals, THL has conducted specific inquiries to collect data on the activities of child guidance and family counselling centres. The most recent specific inquiry concerned the 2002 data.

The School Health Promotion Study collects data on the living conditions, school experiences, health and health habits of 14-18-year-olds using a nationally uniform method. The study aims to support the efforts made to promote welfare and health among young people, particularly the development of pupil care and school health care. The School Health Promotion Study is carried out in the same municipalities every other year. Since 2002, municipalities in the provinces of Southern Finland, Eastern Finland and Lapland have participated in the study in even-numbered years and municipalities in the provinces of Western Finland and Oulu and in Åland in odd-numbered years.

A yearbook on the living conditions of young people is published by THL in co-operation with the Advisory Council for Youth Affairs and the Finnish Youth Research Network. The yearbook explores the important transitional stages in young people's life by combining statistical data and scientific research on welfare and health among young people. Furthermore, a youth database maintained by the Advisory Council for Youth Affairs provides information on the living conditions of young people at provincial, regional and sub-regional levels.

Contact people:
Salla Säkkinen (child welfare, child maintenance and custody)
Tel. +358 20 610 7064, e-mail: forename.lastname@thl.fi
Sari Kauppinen (child guidance and family counselling)
Tel. +358 20 610 7373, e-mail: forename.lastname@thl.fi
Minna Räsänen (School Health Promotion Study)
Tel. +358 20 610 7636, +358 50 3407 933, e-mail: forename.lastname@thl.fi
Tiina Puhakka (the yearbook on young people, youth database)
Tel. +358 20 610 7673, e-mail: forename.lastname@thl.fi

Statistics on the topic

Child maintenance and custody

Child welfare