Role and Success of Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care in Supporting Child Welfare Clients: Perspectives from Parents and Professionals

Day care in Finland comprising care, education and teaching-called Educare or the ECEC model-can be used as an open care (community care) support measure for children whose development is at risk. The general aim of the study was to investigate whether the needs of child welfare client children and their parents are fulfilled in day care services from the perspective of parents and professionals. The questions were: (1) How are the individual needs of child protection client children met in day care? (2) In what way does day care support the parenting of child welfare client parents? (3) What kind of enabling and hindering factors, processes and mechanisms are there for good outcomes from day care for children and parents? The study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The methods used were a questionnaire for parents (N = 42), group-level documentary materials from day care and social services officers about the problems faced by client children and parents, and interviews with ECEC and child welfare staff (N = 28). Parents experienced many problems, including exhaustion, poor mental health, substance abuse and parenting problems. Twenty percent of the children had individual support needs. The parents were very satisfied with the ECEC service their children were receiving and the parenting support provided. The ECEC professionals highlighted many positive changes in children in day care and they were also able to support parenting. The enabling and hindering factors for good outcomes were connected with the attitudes and problems of the clients, administrative processes within sectors, and cooperation between ECEC and child welfare staff. ECEC services can considerably increase the safety and well-being of child welfare client children and support their parents in their upbringing. The role and cooperation of ECEC and child welfare staff need clarification.