Child Welfare Notification

A child welfare case is initiated when a child, his guardian or another individual concerned about the child contacts the child welfare authorities by phone or in writing. A notifying authority is obliged to make a child welfare notification also in advance when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a child to be born will need child welfare support instantly after birth.

Employees working with children and families in social and health care, day care, schools, youth services, parish, police, emergency services, Emergency Response Center and the Criminal Sanctions Agency have a special notification obligation according to the Child Welfare Act. In addition, a child welfare notification can be made by a private person becoming concerned about the situation of a child and family. If he wishes, a private person can make a notification anonymously. The child or the guardian can also request an assessment of the need for services.

After its arrival, the child welfare notification is investigated to the extent required and the child’s guardians are contacted. In urgent cases where the child is suspected to be in immediate danger, the notification is investigated without delay. Each child welfare notification is investigated.