New recommendations on child health clinics
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has published guidelines for local authorities concerning the arrangement of tasks of child health clinics and how they can better support families with children.
The publication is intended for municipal decision-makers responsible for the running of child health clinics. The publication presents guidelines for municipalities on how to develop the services of the clinics as a part of primary services offered locally. The guidelines include objectives and principles as well as specific proposals for organising and directing the work of the clinics.
The guidelines take a family and resource-oriented approach and envisage more extensive peer support for families and parenting, and to prevent ill health in children.
The guidelines also propose that special support and even frequent home visits should be arranged for families in need. Priority issues include the staffing of public health nurses and physicians working at child health clinics as well as their further education needs.