Blog by Irene Bertana, Senior Policy Officer at EASPD
Early childhood is critical for a child’s development, laying the foundation for their future. Child development is shaped by genetics, environment, and caregiver interactions, and positive early experiences are essential. Children from socially excluded families or with limited access to services are at higher risk of developmental delays. Without the necessary stimuli during these early years, addressing the consequences later becomes much harder. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is crucial in fostering child development and reducing risks by working closely with families to foster their strengths and wellbeing.
The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is dedicated to advancing ECI across Europe by promoting inclusive, high-quality, and accessible services. Over recent years, EASPD has led multiple initiatives and advocacy efforts to improve ECI frameworks and practices. Among these is our collaboration with the First Years, First Priorities campaign, which fully aligns with our objectives.
EASPD’s key initiatives and milestones
At the core of EASPD’s work is the Member Forum on Early Childhood Intervention which connects ECI experts, service providers, and stakeholders from the EASPD network. Key initiatives include the development of a report on ECI in the Balkans, of the Burnout Free ECI project, and advocacy actions, like the position paper on ECI. Endorsed by 36 EU and national organisations, the paper highlights the benefits of family-centered ECI and provides recommendations at national and EU levels.
A major milestone in EASPD’s work was the ECI Agora Project, which ran from 2019 to 2021. Supported by the Velux foundation and implemented in partnership with EurlyAid, the project focused on fostering the development of national ECI systems in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The project included an initial situation analysis, and a pilot of methodologies with national NGOs that were also project partners.
The same approach was followed with the ECI Greece project, funded by DG REFORM under the Technical Support Instrument. This project aimed to establish the foundation for an ECI system in Greece. A country report assessed the state of ECI in Greece, its key gaps and challenges. Seven service providers received training on family-centered ECI and piloted this approach for one year. Additionally, materials and events were developed to create an active community that would support the development of family-centred ECI and serve as ambassadors in their respective fields. Stakeholders and experts, including representatives of the social, education and health sector, civil society and universities co-designed an Action Plan for ECI in Greece. All materials are available on the project website.
EASPD also partnered with UNICEF on the ECDUR project, which culminated in the conference “Family-centred ECI: how to make it work?” that took place in Tirana, Albania in June 2023. The event brought together over 300 experts including service providers for persons with disabilities, UNICEF country offices, government representatives, academic institutions and civil society organisations. The conference concluded with recommendations on building family-centred ECI systems.
Looking ahead: challenges and opportunities
Looking ahead, EASPD is focused on ensuring that ECI is high on the European policy agenda and is fully integrated into relevant initiatives on disability, child rights, and deinstitutionalisation. Key opportunities lie in the Child Guarantee, the upcoming second phase of the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the new budget negotiations.
The EU can play a crucial role in fostering the development of high-quality Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services and national systems. A key barrier is the lack of a shared understanding among policymakers and professionals about what quality ECI entails. EU Guidelines on ECI systems could provide a consistent framework across all Member States. Another challenge is the absence of reliable data on existing services, which an EU-wide study on ECI policies and practices could address. ECI systems are cross-sectoral, and coordination and funding issues often hinder implementation. The EU could help by facilitating the exchange of best practices and funding reforms, as seen in Greece. Lastly, the shift towards family-ce ntered ECI requires comprehensive training, where the EU could support by creating MOOCs, training platforms, promoting knowledge sharing, and funding pilot projects.
By advancing these objectives, we can ensure that every child and family in need has access to the necessary support for their development, regardless of circumstances. Together, we can lay the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable future for all children.
