New ways to combat serious youth crime – individual support and teamwork with young people
Miia Wilhelmsson and Raimo Kivistö, both with extensive experience in child protection work, seek new ways to combat youth crime. They collaborate closely with the police, the Prison and Probation Service of Finland, NGOs, and youth outreach programmes, for example.
There are currently over ten Ostrobothnian clients, with meetings held at locations like police stations, prisons, and clients’ homes. Accessibility and agility of support services are ensured by meeting clients in their own environments. In other words, support is brought to where the young person is, even to interrogations if necessary.
– Through client cases, we also identify areas within our structures that need improvement, says Project Manager Miia Wilhelmsson.
Guiding youth toward a crime-free life
The Kåppi service being developed focuses on youth and young adults aged 12–29 with serious or repeated criminal behaviour and a life situation involving risks of social exclusion, such as substance abuse. A key goal is to motivate young people to pursue positive change and open new paths for their lives. The young person’s own willingness to change is key.
– The window in which a young person is ready for change is often fleeting. That’s why it’s important to offer initial contact and support quickly, emphasises Project Worker Raimo Kivistö.
Support efforts focus on building trust, listening to the young person’s individual needs and assessing their life situation, with a forward-looking approach. The young person’s family and close connections are also considered when tailoring services flexibly.
Moving toward change through networking
Under the new approach, a broad support network consisting of professionals from various fields and peer mentors takes charge of helping youth. Collaborative efforts create natural encounters where youth can build trusting relationships with supportive adults.
To enhance activity options for young people, the project has already established initiatives like the Kåppi Gym in collaboration with rehabilitation and support organisation KRIS Pohjanmaa. The Kåppi Gym is a gym where youth can try guided workouts and meet peer mentors, with snacks provided to participants.
Young people interested in martial arts are coached by professional kickboxer Jarkko Jussila.
– For us, the client defines the network. Physical activity helps connect with youth, and training and martial arts genuinely interest them, says Raimo Kivistö.
Corrective and preventive work
Speeding up the first meeting and creating a support team around the young person involved in crime enables effective intervention in their lives. The Kåppi project also organises workshops as needed for those working with the same clients.
The aim is to develop an operating model that allows various actors to assess a young person’s situation more consistently. This will speed up access to help, as multidisciplinary services can be offered without delay.
Additionally, an online course is being developed as part of the project to train professionals to better understand the needs of youth exhibiting criminal behaviour.
– We also plan to initiate school mediation so that issues can be addressed more swiftly within schools, shares Miia Wilhelmsson.
Wilhelmsson and Kivistö believe that collaborative efforts and individual support can help guide youth exhibiting criminal behaviour toward a crime-free and functional everyday life. The goal is for this operating model to continue helping youth build a future free from crime, grounded in their unique circumstances.
