Parental support in Oskarshamn

Being a parent is a great challenge. With time and changing routines, there are now new demands for societal development. Parenthood competes with media and the Internet. Grandparents' support is no longer certain. That is why it is so important to meet other parents to exchange knowledge and experiences.

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In 2009 Oskarshamn employed a coordinator to facilitate the social programme. The overall aim is to reduce the amount of investigations on children and youth's social situation based on reports and instead react earlier and offer the citizens an attractive social service. Ten years ago Oskarshamn was a front runner and started up the Family Central programme, consisting in cooperation between the public pre-school, the maternity welfare, the child health services and the social service, with the parental support as an important part of this. The latter has a gender, a socio-economic and an ethnic perspective. All men and women shall have the same possibilities, rights and responsibilities. A father is important for child's mental health and social adjustment. The schedule for the parental support is flexible to attract as many participants as possible, both mothers and fathers. Regarding the socio-economic perspective, the parents'social background is the most important factor for children's health. All social groups to significant to parental support must participate in the process. Optimally, extra-Nordic parents should be attending the same groups as Swedish-born parents as a tool for integration. The language barrier is unfortunately an obstacle.

The parental support in Oskarshamn is, among other things, built on:

► a competent social service with a small specialized administra tive authority and a rather big advice and support part
► a well-functioning Family Central
► a joint parental support programme at the elementary school (ÖPP, Örebro Preventions Programme), 30 educated ÖPP present ers at the elementary school and 7 ÖPP educators
► marketing via brochures, PTA-meetings and addressed dispatch and information via lectures, website, blog and Facebook.

If parents can give children warmth and frames the social welfare will be improved. Both the families and the society gain from the parental support.