Mannerheim League for Child Welfare to terminate nationwide childcare service in Finland

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) has announced the termination of its nationwide childcare service, effective December 15. After this date, families will no longer be able to request babysitters through MLL. Janina Andersson, director of operations for MLL in the Varsinais-Suomi region, advises families to gather contact information for their babysitters to reach out to them directly in the future.

The end of the service marks the cessation of a 50-year tradition. MLL has provided temporary childcare assistance through its referral service in Varsinais-Suomi and throughout Finland for five decades, with over 3,000 families registered in the region alone. Last year, 265 families in the Turku area actively utilized the service.

Andersson expressed regret over the discontinuation, noting that MLL has trained hundreds of babysitters across Finland for its referral service, which has been both affordable and secure for families. Babysitters received quality training, and all individuals underwent background checks. The service cost families only 10 euros per hour, making it accessible to many.

Families in need of temporary childcare will now need to seek caregivers through other means, including direct contact with babysitters, relying on friends and relatives, or using companies that provide childcare services. The reason for the service’s closure is the lack of sustainable funding for MLL’s childcare referral service.

In some areas of the country, the service has already been discontinued. In the last remaining MLL regions, including Varsinais-Suomi, the service will cease in December. According to reports, only the Kainuu region will continue to provide childcare assistance in the coming year, as it has not utilized MLL’s national referral system for babysitters, opting instead to organize requests directly through its Kainuu office.