What is it about?

The aim of Early Interventions is to increase the mental and social wellbeing of children, young people and families with children. We work to 

• ensure that decision-making related to the wellbeing of children and young people is based on research data 
• ensure that the services for children, young people and families with children use methods that have research evidence of their effectiveness.   

Nordic cooperation 

Early Interventions is part of the NordicDataPrev network, established in 2014 together with other Nordic operators. In addition to Early Intervention, the network includes Ungsinn from Norway, Metodguiden from Sweden and Vidensportalen from Denmark.

The aim of the network is to evaluate psychosocial methods and collect research information for the use of child and family services in the Nordic countries. In addition, the aim is to improve the flow of information for professionals and decision-makers.

The operations of the Early Interventions are based on intervention and implementation skills 

Early Interventions has an evaluation editorial team, which publishes method assessments of early-stage psychosocial methods aimed at children, young people and families with children. The methods to be assessed must promote the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children or young people, or prevent and treat mental health problems, either directly or indirectly. The methods are systematically evaluated according to the Early Interventions evaluation system.  

The method assessments are published as systematic reviews on the Kasvuntuki.fi page and in the Early Interventions magazine. The aim of the method assessments is to support the work of professionals and to increase research-based decision-making in child and family services. 

The benefits of a method proven to be effective on the basis of evidence may not be achieved without a systematic and research-based implementation. Implementation refers to the process of adopting a method and establishing it as part of the organisation’s operations.

High-quality implementation prevents the altering of the method during the implementation process, which means that the effectiveness of the method is preserved, the method benefits its target group, and the investments made in the method are profitable. Early Interventions provides research-based data and tools for implementing, establishing and monitoring methods.

Project for national implementation competence to support the growth of children and young people 

The Early Interventions KI project continues and complements the assessment of psychosocial methods that has been carried out in Itla’s Early Interventions work for years, as well as implementation support for effective evidence-based methods.   

The project promotes equal access to effective mental health services for children and young people, regardless of region. By increasing cooperation between different professional groups, we aim to improve basic services and ensure equal access to effective mental health services for children and young people in the services of wellbeing services counties and in connection with the municipal educational administration. 

The project also models operating models for psychosocial support for both schools and families with serious illnesses. The project is being funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Further information 

Please contact us about any questions regarding Early Interventions.