Germany’s prevention and early intervention strategies promote long term equitable outcomes

The legal framework aims at equitable outcomes for vulnerable groups

In 2012, the Federal Child Protection Act, which covers both the health care system and the child and youth welfare system, made prevention and early intervention a provision and responsibility of the child and youth welfare system.

A key aim of this provision is promoting long term equitable outcomes for vulnerable children and their families.

Integrated prevention programmes focus on parents from aged 0 to 3

 The investments since then have focused on comprehensive and integrated prevention, early intervention strategies and evidence-based programmes and services, for example, legal and policy reform, financing, research, competence building, and comprehensive, publicly funded early childhood education and care centres.

Prevention and early intervention services focus on parents in the first months of pregnancy and during the first years of a child’s life, with a special focus on children aged 0-3. The services focus on providing support to families and parents needs through preventive programmes to identify risks at an early stage, reduce risks for children, encourage parents-child attachments and strengthen families. The prevention services offered are both general and targeted programmes for vulnerable families.

Lowered economic and social costs for families

Research shows that effective prevention and early intervention approaches can reduce the economic and social costs for families, communities and society. Moreover, research suggests that early intervention services can assist young children and their families in overcoming challenges and improving overall well-being by providing services and support to help children remain safely with their families.

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