STM funding granted to Mia Hakovirta’s research project on child maintenance and living arrangements

Professor of Social Work Mia Hakovirta has received €495,000 in funding from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for her research project “Family Law Services and Social Work: Agreements on Child Living Arrangements and Maintenance after Separation (SOVINTO)”.

The project, led by Mia Hakovirta (pictured right), will be carried out within the INVEST Research Flagship Centre in collaboration with the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku. The project team includes doctoral researchers Mari Haapanen (pictured second from right) and Eija Lindroos (pictured left), senior researchers Milla Salin (pictured second from left) and Anniina Kaittila, as well as Professor Tuulikki Mikkola from the Faculty of Law.

This form of funding has only been available for a few years. In September 2020, the Social Welfare Act was amended to allow the Ministry to launch an annual call for research proposals and award state funding to university-level social work research projects.

This year, funding was granted to 18 research projects aimed at strengthening the effectiveness, quality, and client safety of social work and social services, as well as promoting clients’ participation and agency. Compared to previous rounds, this year’s funded projects particularly emphasised multidisciplinarity and strong connections to the service system.