Expecting a baby and navigating the first years of a child’s life brings many questions for families – from the health of the expectant mother and newborn to breastfeeding, child development and the mother’s emotional well-being. It is particularly important that professional support is available to families not only in healthcare facilities but also, when needed, in their own homes. Investment under the Lithuanian–Swiss Cooperation Programme is helping to strengthen this model of support in Lithuania.
As part of the project “Improvement of obstetrics and children health care services and implementation of holistic child development services”, implemented under the “Maternal and Child Health and Wellbeing” programme, one of the professional development areas for healthcare specialists focuses on family visiting and the provision of early intervention services.
Specially trained midwives and nurses provide comprehensive support to expectant mothers and families with children up to the age of two in their homes. Through the training, specialists acquired the competencies needed to assess mothers’ physical and emotional health, monitor infant development, provide advice on breastfeeding, nutrition, vaccinations, a safe home environment and other issues important to families, as well as identify potential health and psychosocial risks at an early stage.
From training to support for families
The example of Raudondvaris Clinic shows how the knowledge and competencies acquired through the training are applied in practice when working with families. Agnė Šabonė, a midwife at Raudondvaris Clinic, completed specialised training in “Family Visiting and the Provision of Early Intervention Services”. The skills acquired enable her to provide family visiting services to expectant mothers and families with young children.
“The training provided not only new knowledge but also practical skills that help us better understand the needs of families. Visiting families in their homes allows us to see their everyday environment, identify where support is needed at an early stage, answer parents’ questions and give them greater confidence in looking after their own health and that of their baby,” says Agnė Šabonė, a midwife at Raudondvaris Clinic.
Family visiting services bring professional support closer to families. During home visits, specialists can monitor the health of mothers and babies, assess child development, and provide advice on breastfeeding, nutrition, vaccinations, a safe home environment and other issues relevant to families. An important aspect of this support is the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the family’s everyday environment, identify potential health or psychosocial risks at an early stage, and provide support tailored to individual needs.
Investing in healthcare professionals‘ knowledge across Lithuania
Training family visiting specialists is just one of the project activities aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of maternal and child healthcare services in Lithuania. The project plans to train nearly 11,000 healthcare professionals. The training covers not only family visiting, but also antenatal care, breastfeeding, child health, the use of psychodiagnostics tools and other areas important to maternal and child health.
At the same time, methodologies and diagnostic tools are being developed and updated, while outpatient maternity care, child healthcare and early childhood development services are being strengthened. The project activities aim to ensure that new professional knowledge and modern support tools reach families across different regions of Lithuania.
“It is important that people themselves feel the benefits of investment. In this case, investment is being made in the skills and expertise of healthcare professionals, but the ultimate result is higher-quality support that is closer to mothers, children and families. It is encouraging to see that the knowledge gained through a project administered by the CPVA can be put into practice and reach families in different regions of Lithuania,” says Edita Česnulienė, Senior Project Manager at the International Investment Division of the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA).
Investment under the Lithuanian–Swiss Cooperation Programme is contributing to change that families themselves can experience – making professional support more accessible and bringing it closer to expectant mothers, mothers and families with young children.
