The Stepfamily Association of Finland (Supli) established in 1996 is a non-governmental organization that supports stepfamilies through peer supported group activities and counselling as well as strengthens the stepfamily knowledge and knowhow by training professionals, research cooperation, networking, providing online publications and other resources. Supli also promotes equal rights of diverse stepfamilies and access to services through advocacy.
PEER SUPPORT AND VOLUNTEERING
In the very core of Supli’s work are peer supported groups, events and volunteering. Activities can vary from yearly couples’ cruises and hikes to weekends for mothers or fathers and online chats. There are also peer group activities for specific topics such as multicultural stepfamilies, childlessness in stepfamilies etc. Volunteers who run these activities are experts by experience and trained by Supli.
The Nepu-programme that grew out of necessity and started in 2023 is an intervention for neurodivergent couples living in stepfamilies. It includes a peer supported course, workbook and online material bank. According to Supli’s development strategies, this programme too is co-created and uses the influential peer support model.
More information in Finnish about all our current events: https://supli.fi/ajankohtaista/tapahtumat/
TRAININGS
The trainings for professionals are an important part of improving the wellbeing of stepfamilies in Finland. According to research the needs of stepfamilies are often not met in the public services and professionals need training about specific questions related to diverse stepfamilies, alienation and equity in the legal and service systems to name but a few. Supli offers shorter trainings by demand, but also runs study programmes about stepfamily dynamics.
StepApp-programme
Development of the StepApp-programme started in 2018. The programme consists of three components: The StepApp coach training, StepApp coaching for stepfamilies and the StepApp mobile application. The programme is run by Supli in agreement with the wellbeing service counties.
The StepApp-coach training is based on the programme for Stepfamily Counselling.
Programme for Stepfamily Counselling
In 2002 Supli started systematically training professionals to work with stepfamilies. Supli now provides education for professionals from the public sector, CSOs and the private sector working with families. This includes therapists, psychologists, educators and professionals from child protection, family and social services, criminal care and parishes. The 30-credit programme takes a year to complete and consists of 800 hours of studying. The multi-modal education consists of theoretical lectures and literature as well as action-based methods such as psychodrama and sociodrama work. Most importantly, the voices of the different members of stepfamilies and different kinds of experiences of stepfamily life are included in the training.
ADVOCACY
Supli works to influence stepfamily rights, access to services and representation through media, organization cooperation and political discussion. Supli is involved in the diverse families group of the parliament and other influential groups and networks.
According to research, the stepfamily specific dynamics and challenges are not recognized or well understood by professionals and the specific support and knowledge that stepfamilies are in need of is often unattainable. Supli’s aim is to close this gap. To answer the true needs of the target group, the activities, programmes and materials are developed using continuous co-creation strategies where research knowledge is combined with real life experiences. Co-creation is done together with a multiprofessional network (including family therapists) and the focus group (including all stepfamily members). The activities of Supli are based on systemic family therapy operating model, where the structure, dynamics and processes of stepfamilies as well as external influences are seen holistically.
CONTACT
Stepfamily Association of Finland
Säästöpankinranta 4 G 60
00530 Helsinki
Finland
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +358 40 689 3418