Oy VASSO Ab

The Southwest Finland Centre of Excellence on Social Welfare, Oy VASSO Ab, belongs to a nationwide network of centres of excellence. There are eight regional centres and one for the Swedish speaking population in Finland. They have been functioning since 2002.

The aim of the centres of excellence is to provide an active and permanent, nationwide cooperative structure for developing basic and special services within the social sector, as well as to secure the social services that require regional cooperation and special expertise.

VASSO gathers and combines development needs and expertise within the social services and launches development activities in Southwest Finland. VASSO promotes regional and provincial cooperation and strengthens the connection between the practical work, research and education.

Research, evaluation and clarification work

VASSO connects practical work and research by

- clarifying research and evaluation needs in the social sector

- forwarding research requests from practical workers to students and researchers

- planning research, evaluation and clarifications together with the research

  and education sector

- forwarding information regarding new research projects

- taking part in project evaluation and research teams

Regions

There are five regions and 28 municipalities in the province of Southwest Finland, Turku, Salo, Loimaa, Vakka-Suomi and Turunmaa. The five regions differ in their economy and regional structures as well as in their natural conditions. There are approximately 460 000 people living in Southwest Finland.

Current activities in VASSO

Currently VASSO is actively working with the following spheres:

- pre-school education

- child protection

- welfare services for the disabled and handicapped

- welfare services for substance abusers

- welfare services for elderly people 

- multicultural social services

- welfare politics

- coordination of extension studies

We act as coordinators and conveners as well as plan, launch and realize development projects. Moreover, we are partners in
planning in-service education as well as in evaluation, research and reporting.

Contact information

Postal address:

The Southwest Finland Centre of Excellence on Social Welfare /

Varsinais-Suomen sosiaalialan osaamiskeskus

Oy Vasso Ab

Lautakunnankatu 6

20780 Kaarina

Tel. 050 559 0700

E-mail addresses: firstname.lastname(at) vasso.fi

http://www.vasso.fi

Personnel:

Merja Anis

Managing director

Mobile: 050 559 0767

Erja Annala

Office assistant

Mobile: 050 559 0700

Niko Lankinen

Planner
Mobile: 050 559 0769