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Family Visiting Specialist’s Daily Work – Not Always Bright and Easy
“I may have saved four lives, and I am truly happy doing this job,” says Vytautė Švedienė, a family visiting specialist from Marijampolė and one of the first 13 specialists in Lithuania working in a pilot family visiting project. She reflects on one of the most unforgettable moments from her two years in the role.
It was a typical home visit to a mother with a one-and-a-half-year-old child and two older kids. She was asked to fill out a questionnaire about her emotional well-being. However, the answers raised concerns. After talking more, the mother revealed she was having suicidal thoughts.
“I calmed her down and thanked her for trusting me and opening up,” says Švedienė. “Then, I did what I had to do—I informed the right authorities. Thankfully, everything ended well. The woman is now getting help, taking medication, and seeing a psychologist. She thanked me for responding quickly.”
Currently, Švedienė visits 24 families, including 23 mothers and one father, who is raising his six-month-old daughter alone. The baby’s mother, who has an intellectual disability, is unable to care for her.
Of the families Švedienė visits, 18 are in a social risk group, facing issues like alcohol abuse, child neglect, lack of social skills, and financial hardship.
“All of us specialists have families with extra challenges, but I visit a bit more of them. The project is focused on families at social risk, and every situation is different,” she explains.
Lithuania Embraces International Experience and Investment
Since 2022, Lithuania has been running a pilot family visiting project to support expectant and new mothers and families raising children up to two years old. The program operates in 16 municipalities, with over 300 families currently participating. The plan is to expand the service across the country by May 2025.
This project is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism’s "Health" programme and follows international best practices. Trained healthcare professionals provide support to first-time mothers, young or single mothers, low-income families, and social risk households. They help reduce risks to the mother and child, improve health, and teach positive parenting skills.
“The pilot project has shown that there is a huge need for this kind of service in Lithuania,” says Sandra Remeikienė, the Head of the EEA and Norway Programmes Division at the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA). “We are glad to offer a tool that provides real help—not only in caring for babies but also in supporting the physical and mental well-being of parents.”
Emotional Well-being – A Major Challenge
Švedienė agrees that one of the biggest challenges in her work is looking after families' emotional well-being. Only by building trust and cooperation can specialists prevent potential crises.
“Earning their trust comes down to personal qualities,” says Švedienė. “Being human, understanding their situation, and accepting them without judgment or criticism.”
Family visiting specialists not only check on how mothers are caring for and feeding their babies, but they also closely monitor pregnancies. Sometimes women may hide their pregnancy, avoid medical check-ups, or abuse alcohol or cigarettes.
There are also cases where children are placed with temporary guardians. For example, a mother abandoned her baby at a crisis center, and another child had to be removed from a home due to the parents’ heavy alcohol abuse.
Recently, Švedienė worked with Child Rights Protection specialists on a particularly unusual case—both a teenage daughter and her mother were pregnant at the same time.
“I also have a case where a young pregnant woman wants me to visit, but her much older partner is threatening to smash my car windows if I interfere. It is scary and uncomfortable, but I keep doing my job,” she shares.
Despite the challenges and tough moments in her work, Švedienė finds great meaning in helping others.
“The biggest reward is knowing I am needed and that I can make a difference,” she concludes.
More about the Health Programme
The European Economic Area Financial Mechanism Health Programme projects in Lithuania aim to strengthen mental health services in communities and improve the well-being of children and young people. The programme's various measures include the development of psychosocial support, youth-friendly health services, support for vulnerable children and young people, the establishment of one-stop help centres for children and families, training for parents under the 'Incredible Years' programme, cooperation between families and health professionals, and the development of services and support for pregnant women, mothers in labour, and mothers of children up to the age of two. In total, more than €17.9 million has been earmarked for the Health Programme for 2014-2021.