Toivo activities are a shared operating method of child welfare services and health care to support and help families in difficult circumstances. The Toivo team consists of social workers, nurses and other child welfare professionals.
The clients are underage children who act out by engaging in criminal behaviour, other unusual behaviour or substance abuse or are at risk of falling into a spiral of substance abuse. The support is available to children and their families in community care or substitute care.
The objective is to support the child and family through change. We will stand by children and families in their daily life, stabilise their situation and tailor support to the needs of the child and family.
In what kind of situations will children receive the service?
We provide support when the life of the child or young person includes, e.g.:
- repeated crime
- serious behavioural challenges
- repeated, serious or addictive substance use
- gang affiliation or radicalisation.
We will also help young children, if they are at risk of engaging in the above activities.
The child and their family will be referred to Toivo social work through Child Welfare Services’ service needs assessment or regional Child Welfare Services.
Toivo services are based on the client plan drafted by the dedicated child welfare social worker for the child, and the need for support is always assessed individually. The work will be started together with the family and Toivo social worker. After the initial assessment, a nurse coordinates the related health care services.
In some situations, the family may also receive support from other youth services, such as multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) or the Helmi service.
What kind of support do we provide for the child and family?
The family is supported by a team including a social worker in charge of the case, a nurse and workers from Child Welfare Services or substitute care. If necessary, the team will be extended to include loved ones and professionals from health care, the school, the police or organisations, for example.
We respond quickly to crises and build a functional cooperation network. We create safe and respectful interaction and assess the situation and set goals together.
We tailor the support to the child and their family's situation. If necessary, the work will continue during community sanctions, pre-trial custody or imprisonment.
We will help your child to cope with difficult experiences, develop emotional and social skills and discover their own strengths. The objective is to strengthen the child's positive self-image and the smooth running of everyday life.
Toivo employees
At Toivo, you will be assisted by social workers, social instructors, senior social workers and nurses. If necessary, family therapists from the Child Welfare social work unit can also participate in the work.
