Kasvatusvarassa

Kasvatusvarassa is a Finnish term used in the field of social services and child protection to describe the status of a child or young person who is under state-supported upbringing outside the home. The concept indicates that the child’s safety, development or welfare cannot be ensured by the family alone, and the child is placed under the care and supervision of social authorities for upbringing (kasvatus).

In practice kasvatusvarassa may refer to placements such as foster care (sijaishuolto), residential care in group homes or institutions, or other forms of supported upbringing. The arrangements are decided and overseen by municipal child welfare authorities under the Finnish Child Welfare Act (Lastensuojelulaki). The aim is to safeguard the child’s well-being while maintaining or strengthening connections with the family where possible.

The process typically includes a risk and needs assessment, formulation of an individual care plan, and ongoing monitoring. Placements can be temporary or long-term and are reviewed regularly. The child has the right to be heard, to receive information, and to participate in decisions concerning their upbringing; caregivers and institutions have responsibilities to provide appropriate care and to report on the child’s progress. Support services for the family and for the caregiver are often part of the arrangement.

Critically, the concept is embedded in a system that seeks to balance safety with the child’s rights and potential for family reintegration, while acknowledging resource and capacity limitations within the welfare system. Related terms include lastensuojelu, sijaishuolto, and foster care.