The First 1 000 Days in the Nordics: Identifying Gaps and Needs to Strengthen Psychosocial Wellbeing
Our new report, The First 1 000 Days in the Nordics: Identifying Gaps and Needs to Strengthen Psychosocial Wellbeing, will be published on 11 May 2026.
The event provides decision-makers, developers and officials with an opportunity to gain an up-to-date overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the Nordic countries.
The report highlights key support needs and effective methods of addressing these needs, as well as identified intervention and information gaps and development directions. The report brings together current research, expert insights and proven interventions to strengthen psychosocial support for families from pregnancy to the child’s second birthday.
The report is part of the Nordic Network for the First 1 000 Days of a Child’s Life, which aims to promote a healthy start in life, and it will inform the next phase of Nordic development and provide insights into how each country can adapt the findings to its own context.
The aim is to build strong, effective, and equitable service pathways that support families on time and ensure a good start to life in all Nordic countries.
We welcome developers, experts, and decision-makers in perinatal services from all Nordic countries!
Please notice the time zones
- 14.00-15.30 (Finland)
- 13.00-14.30 (Norway, Sweden and Denmark)
- 11.00-12.30 (Iceland)
Webinar ID: 852 5960 3842
Programme
The webinar will be hosted by Kaisa Lähteenmäki-Smith, PhD (Pol.Sci).
14.00 Welcome!
(13.00 Sweden, Norway, Denmark; 11.00 Iceland)
- Eva Franzén
Director of the Nordic Welfare Centre
14.05 Key findings of the report The First 1 000 Days in the Nordics: Identifying Gaps and Needs to Strengthen Psychosocial Wellbeing
- Jonna Lehikoinen
Senior Specialist, Itla Children’s Foundation
Master of Health Sciences
Midwife (Master of Health Care/Advanced Practice, YAMK) - Marjaana Raukola-Lindblom
Clinical Teacher, Speech and Language Pathology (Logopedics), Faculty of Social Sciences
Senior Researcher, Faculty of Medicine
Senior Researcher, Faculty of Educational Sciences
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Ph.L.
14.40 Panel discussion
- Josefin P. Jonsson
Head of department, Lifestyles and Health-promoting Environments, Public Health Agency of Sweden - Helen Brandstorp
Divisional Director of the Division for Municipal Services and Emergency Preparedness, Norway - Helga Sif Friðjónsdóttir Ph.D.
Deputy Director General at Ministry of Health in Iceland - Reija Klemetti
Director, Children and Young People Unit, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
15.25 Closing remarks
- Jenný Ingudóttir
Project manager, The Directorate of Health Iceland
15.30 Webinar ends
The Nordic First 1 000 Days of a Child Network enhances understanding of the importance of pregnancy and the first two years of life for human health, and promotes the use of effective methods to support the mental health of parents and children. In 2026, Denmark will hold the chair of the network. The Improving Child Health project was coordinated by Itla.
Information
If you have questions about the webinar, please contact Senior Specialist Jonna Lehikoinen.
Erityisasiantuntija
Senior Specialist
Kasvun tuki
jonna.lehikoinen@itla.fi