Department for Communities and Functional Capacity

The Department for Communities and Functional Capacity is responsible for matters related to health and social services for children, young people and families, services for people with disabilities, services for older people, medical rehabilitation, the promotion of social wellbeing, functional capacity and health and the prevention of diseases.
The Department is also responsible for the coordination of the Ministry’s government grant activities and for grants awarded to health and social organisations. 
The Department coordinates the issues that it is responsible for with a wider framework for healthcare and social welfare policy and societal policy and performs related national and international tasks in cooperation with other departments and stakeholders.

Units and personnel of the Department

The Department for Communities and Functional Capacity is headed by Director General Annakaisa Iivari.
(Secretary Taina Pahkamaa-Huusko)

Children and Young People Unit (LANU)

The Unit is responsible for matters related to:

  • maternity and child health clinics
  • school and student healthcare 
  • services of school psychologists and school social workers in student welfare
  • family social work, child and family counselling services, family work and support for parenting
  • child protection
  • state reform schools
  • adoption
  • primary mental health and substance abuse services for children and young people
  • wellbeing of children, young people and families, the prevention of exclusion and the strengthening of inclusion
  • other health and social services for children and young people
  • Youth Guarantee and One-Stop Guidance Centers
  • The unit has a Child Strategy Group, which is responsible for the implementation of the National Child Strategy and the coordination of the European Child Guarantee.

Director Reija Klemetti
(Secretary Noora Manni)

Functional Capacity Unit (TOK)

The Unit is responsible for matters related to:

  • promotion of social wellbeing, functional capacity and health and the prevention of diseases
  • healthy nutrition, health- and wellbeing-promoting physical exercise and the promotion of mental health
  • services for people with disabilities
  • services for older people
  • medical rehabilitation
  • services supporting the rehabilitation and living at home of front-line veterans
  • healthcare and social welfare services promoting the capacity and ability to work
  • other health and social services  and informal care for the target group
  • appropriation for health promotion.

Director Taru Koivisto
(Secretary Eeva Kankaanpää)

Shared Services Unit (YPA)

The Unit is responsible for matters related to:

  • development of the Department’s activities
  • monitoring and development of social and social policy related cooperation
  • promoting social cohesion and preventing social problems
  • development and coordination of government grant activities
  • preparation and coordination of financial issues, payments and invoicing, travel arrangements and technical support for law drafting falling within the purview of the Department for Communities and Functional Capacity, the Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare and the Department for Safety, Security and Health
  • tasks related to the content steering of the national thematic areas of the European Union´s Structural Funds projects in cooperation with other ministries an the departments of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
  • statutory official duties related to STEA grants insofar as they have not been assigned to STEA.

Director Kirsi Kaikko
(Secretary Seija Perttula)

Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA)

  • is responsible for grants awarded to health and social organisations
  • prepares grant proposals
  • pays grants
  • supervises the use of grants
  • makes impact assessments
  • provides information about the processes relevant to the application for and use of government grants.

Director Hanna Heinonen