Through administrative turbulence
The perceived effects of health and social services reformon cultural wellbeing activities in Finland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17409/kpt.152662Abstrakti
In this review, we examine expert perspectives on the potential effects of the 2023 reform of Finnish Wellbeing Services Counties (WSC) on cultural wellbeing within the health and social care sectors. This exploration includes the anticipated integration of cultural services, the evolving roles of stakeholders, and the expected implications of the reform on funding for cultural activities.
The data were collected through interviews and a survey in the spring of 2023. We first thematically structured the interview and survey data separately and then synthesized the themes into broader categories. This approach allowed us to analyze the themes holistically, aligning with previous research findings on the subject.
The WSC reform has disrupted the continuity and development of cultural wellbeing activities in Finland by restructuring administrative responsibilities and altering collaboration networks. Despite these difficulties, the reform has increased recognition of cultural wellbeing in some WSCs, particularly for the elderly, and improved integration into regional strategic documents. The most significant barriers to cultural wellbeing activities are: 1) the lack of and insufficiency in basic funding, leaving the activities largely financed by the cultural sector; 2) the emphasis on project-based activities; 3) the lack of regional coordination; and 4) weak procurement competence. The WSC reform
has weakened the connections between various actors in promoting cultural wellbeing. Two-thirds of our survey respondents viewed the WSC reform’s impact negatively. Hence, there is a call for increased cross-disciplinary cooperation and for integrating cultural wellbeing within the strategic frameworks of social and´ healthcare services.
The effects of the WSC on the execution of cultural wellbeing activities have not yet been studied extensively. This review article sheds light on the issue at this specific moment.
