The aim of the Interreg Aurora funded project Fierbmi is to improve access to child welfare and family counselling services for Sámi families when parents or other family members live on different sides of a national border, as borders can create challenges in accessing support services. The laws of Finland and Norway differentiate in many topics, which makes it challenging to cooperate across the border.
The Wellbeing Services County of Lapland (LAPHA, FIN), and The National Sámi Competence Centre (NASAK, NOR) are respectively in charge of developing social services for the Sámi people in Finnish Lapland and Norway. During their joint small-scale Interreg Aurora project in 2025, it was concluded that the regulatory framework alone is not enough to guarantee efficient cooperation in cross-border social service cases. The service employees wished for clearer guidance on the possibilities of cross-border cooperation, as well as education about the social service system and legal framework in the other country. As a result, Fierbmi was launched in March 2026.
During Fierbmi, the project partners aim to:
– establish strong cooperation between Finnish and Norwegian Children and Families’ services,- solve juridical and administrative problems, or when not possible, relay information about the difficulties to responsible authorities,
– organise joint events for Finnish and Norwegian service employees,
– and write a concrete handbook on the possibilities and juridical constrictions of cross-border cooperation in children and families’ services.
Contact info: Heini Huhtamella, Project manager, The Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, heini.huhtamella@lapha.fi
