Progress report on the implementation of the Child Strategy 18/10/2022

Measure 18

Carrying out a project to strengthen children’s inclusion in the preparation of the social security reform

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has carried out a project to strengthen children’s inclusion in conjunction with the social security reform. The project secures the realisation of children’s participation in the preparation of the social security reform and ensures an adequate knowledge base to support the preparation in this context. The measure is being implemented in two phases: by means of an information package aimed at children and young people, and through an extensive round of consultations and involvement. Children and young people aged between 13 and 20 were selected as the project’s target group.

The social security reform information packages for the project consist of game-based learning materials and videos in which social media influencers Joona Hellman, Dokke Tas, Aishah Muhammed and Aron Syrjä explain some terms. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has compiled a website on social security for children and young people where the videos and ready-made materials for teachers are available.

As for the consultation and involvement part of the project, children and young people have been consulted in workshops and through an online survey in autumn 2022. The survey will be open until the end of October, after which the responses will be sent to MPs, experts and officials carrying out the social security reform. The survey can be completed in Finnish, Swedish, English and Northern Sámi.

Measure 25

Carrying out an investigatory project to develop the monitoring and reporting of outcome data in municipalities and wellbeing services counties, and to promote their child-oriented budgeting efforts

In spring and summer 2022, an investigatory project was carried out by the Ministry of Finance to promote child-oriented budgeting efforts in municipalities and wellbeing services counties. The project was carried out by rapporteurs Mika Penttilä and Juha Aho. The Ministry of Finance set up a network of experts to support the rapporteurs; the network consisted of representatives of wellbeing services counties and municipalities as well as experts.

The report was published on 25 August 2022, and it features the rapporteurs’ conclusions on the practical implementation of child-oriented budgeting in municipalities and wellbeing services counties and their ten action proposals.

An online survey on the use of public funds was also conducted amongst children aged 10-17 living in Finland as part of the investigatory project. The survey was open between 2 and 20 May 2022, and there were almost 7,000 responses. A separate report on the children’s responses will be published before the end of 2022.

Report by the rapporteurs: Child-oriented budgeting of municipalities and wellbeing services counties, and the monitoring and reporting of outturn data (valtioneuvosto.fi)

Keywords child strategy children and young people inclusion