In Switzerland, many support, counselling and parental-education services are available to families. As little was known about the services and providers in this field, the FSIO commissioned a study to identify and systematically classify the existing services and to assess them in terms of availability, accessibility and quality, and of the reachability of the target groups.
Literature and online sources were researched and existing databases evaluated in order to record the support, counselling and parental-education services and classify them within a specially developed system. On the basis of discussions with those facilitating the corresponding services and of an analysis of existing documentation and studies, the services were assessed in terms of availability, accessibility and quality, and of their ability to reach the target groups. The system developed by the authors, and the findings from both the literature and the interviews with the providers, were then reflected on and validated in a webinar with cantonal and municipal experts, as well as in an online consultation process with representatives of the NPOs that facilitate or offer the services.
Thanks to input from the various parties involved, it was possible to derive a system and typology that not only suitably reflect the supply situation for family services, but can also serve as an orientation guide. Eight pivotal issues were derived from the study findings in terms of improving the availability, quality and accessibility of the services, and how well they reach the target groups.