Petra Rantamäki of KVPS explains the background to social services in Finland and why KVPS has supported the development of self-directed support.

1. WELCOME TO OUR
WEBINAR!

2. WORKING
FOR A GOOD LIFE!

3. WE ARE WORKING FOR A GOOD LIFE
KVPS – THE SERVICE FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
• Our aim is to find individual solutions and to create
high-quality services all over Finland
• We are a non-governmental organisation aiming to
promote inclusion, equal opportunities and full
citizenship.
• KVPS was founded by Inclusion Finland KVTL in 1992.
• UNCRPD in guiding our work
• We belive in co-creation & partnerships

4. SOCIAL CARE & SUPPORT IN FINLAND
• Welfare system/Nordic model → most services are funded and provided publicly
• Disability services are the responsibility of local authorities (in total 310 municipalities!)
• The principles of Finnish disability policy are the rights to equality, participation the necessary services
and support https://stm.fi/en/disability-services
• Finland has ratified the UN CRPD in 2016 including its Optional Protocol
In practice:
• receiving services may be complicated → municipalities have different procedures/criteria for services.
• For-profit providers increasing → Disability activists and researchers have raised criticism against the
increasing privatisation of service provisions and also against current tendering practices → Not for
Sale! –campaign
• Social welfare and health care reform has been under preparation since 2006 →difficult administrative
process → SDS pilots part of the process
• Disability service legislation is under revision:
• For example persons with neuropsychiatric conditions tend to be left out due to different and
often narrow interpretations of disability
• Legal reform is needed to ensure that services are based on individual support needs.
• Danger of cuts of the costs of disability services
• SDS is important way to strengthen the active role of persons themselves!
• NGO´s & Not for profit organisations have key role in developing and implementing SDS!
https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/255641/easpd_finland_fact_sheet.pdf?sequence=1

5. KVPS PROMOTING SDS
• Active lobbying
• implementing UNCRPD
• active citizenship
• developing the service system -> impacts!
• Think global, act local
• SDS as a part of the bigger reform
• at the same time local co-creation processes together with
municipalities, NGO´s, persons with disabilities & families
• International collaboration
• new ideas, information and support
• SUUNTA “brand” and expertise
• bringing people together & creating networks
• We don´t have to know everything – we can promote co-creation, piloting
and experimental culture as long as we do it together with people!

6. MATERIALS IN ENGLISH!
https://kvps.fi/english/publications/

7. Ville Markkanen is skilled mosaic artist. He
lives in Jyväskylä a city in the middle of
Finland.
Ville participated to SDS pilot, which KVPS
and the city of Jyväskylä had in 2016-2017.
Now Ville works three days a week in the Art
Center Järvilinna in his own studio, as a
member of the artist community.
https://youtu.be/uM5G_gObzb8?list=PLcE5pT4f_DM6Rn2-Flg0DfDsaTpEuwreS