Mia HakovirtaView profile
Professor
Mia Hakovirta is a Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Turku, Finland. Her work is centered on family policy, child support, lone parenthood, child poverty, and financial social work. She holds a PhD from the University of Turku (2006) and an MA from the University of Tampere (1994). MA, University of Tampere (1994) PhD, University of Turku (2006) Her research focuses on the economic well-being of families after separation, particularly in shared care arrangements, and the impact of child support policies across welfare states. She has led major research projects including EconShared (Academy of Finland), TALSOS (Ministry of Social Affairs), and Children First (NordForsk). Her expertise extends to international comparative studies, with visiting scholar experience at SPRU (UK), Rutgers University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and RMIT University. Her recent publications explore joint physical custody, child support systems, financial abuse of children, and cross-national comparisons between Finland and the US. These works reveal a strong trend toward analyzing the intersection of legal frameworks, economic support mechanisms, and child well-being in post-separation families. Although no specific scientific awards are listed, her leadership in externally funded research projects highlights her scholarly recognition. She has contributed significantly to policy-relevant research in Nordic and international contexts. Mia Hakovirta advises students and leads research teams focused on family economics and social policy. She has secured grants from the Academy of Finland, NordForsk, and the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs. Her collaborative network spans multiple countries, reflecting her role in advancing comparative family policy research. She has also contributed to public discourse through blog posts and commentaries on the social impacts of the pandemic on children. She is actively involved in research groups and projects that examine financial social work, child support enforcement, and the economic integration of lone-parent families. Her work bridges academic research and practical social work interventions, particularly in supporting families with children facing economic hardship.










