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Family Visiting Specialists: Helping Parents with Care and Trust
"This service is incredibly meaningful and necessary. Its impact is hard to overestimate," says Irena Stažinskaitė-Glinskienė, one of Lithuania’s first 13 family visiting specialists from Plungė District.
Since 2022, Lithuania has been running a pilot family visiting programme, funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) "Health" programme. The service is available in 16 municipalities and supports expectant mothers, new mothers and families with children up to two years old. Right now, more than 300 families are receiving help from specialists, with plans to launch the service nationwide in May 2025.
"This project has shown how much families in Lithuania need this service. We are happy to provide real support—not just for newborn care but also for parents' physical and mental well-being," says Sandra Remeikienė, head of the EEA and Norway Programmes Division at the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), which oversees the programme.
Trained healthcare professionals support first-time mothers, young or single mothers, low-income families and those at social risk. They help reduce health risks, teach essential parenting skills and ensure both mother and baby stay safe and healthy.
"We are like family doctors—we build strong relationships with families and earn their trust. That is essential because we are often the first to notice and prevent problems like postpartum depression or breastfeeding difficulties," explains Stažinskaitė-Glinskienė, who has 27 years of experience as a midwife.
She believes mothers need support even before birth to prepare for labor and parenting. "When a woman understands what is happening in her body during labor and focuses on bringing her baby into the world, she feels much calmer and more confident," she says.
Family visiting specialists also support parents in adapting to life with a new baby. Relationships can become strained, especially with older siblings.
"Sometimes, you walk into a home where family members barely talk to each other and children act out. Our job is to help rebuild that connection. We take the time to talk—both as a family and individually—because these situations cannot be ignored," says Stažinskaitė-Glinskienė.
She also highlights the importance of early intervention for postpartum depression, which can be subtle or severe. If left unaddressed, the consequences can be serious. "Sometimes, all a mother needs is someone to listen and reassure her, and things start improving right away," she adds.
Family visiting specialists often go beyond their official duties. They offer parenting advice, teach moms how to cook baby food and help families share baby clothes, toys and essentials.
"We live in a time of information overload, and this can confuse new mothers. Our role is to simplify things—whether it is childbirth fears or baby care essentials, we help parents make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary purchases," says Stažinskaitė-Glinskienė, who has found her true calling in this profession.
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.