Early Childhood Development as Entry Point for Social Inclusion of Roma Children

Gordon Alexander Senior Advisor Economic and Social Policy UNICEF CEE/ CIS

Zagreb, 30 November 2010

By way of Preface: in times of budget austerity….

• a commitment to ‘fairness’ ( the worse off shouldn’t be further disadvantaged…)

• Children who are at risk of ‘falling behind’

• No child growing up in a family that has less than living wage

• Challenge the rise in xenophobia

UNICEF

Key messages: Core concept: We need good policies for all children

- plus additional support for marginalised children

Access to education for Roma critical but often too late

ECD spans 0-8 years (not just = to pre-school)

ECD an essential but not sufficient condition for social inclusion

0 1 4 8 12 16

AGE OF CHILD

SensingPathways

(vision, hearing)

LanguageHigherCognitive Function

3 6 9-3-6

Months Years

Source : C. Nelson, in From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000

Latest science on Early Childhood:The most rapid period of growth and change in human lifespan…

UNICEF

CRC Committee General Comment 7 on Young Child

states failing on obligations to this age-group children have rights from very beginning of their lives… special vulnerability of very young to poverty and discrimination, undermining capacities and well being call for integrated approaches supporting parents as well as children

Components of an inclusive early childhood system

Early Learning

Health, Mental Health & Nutrition

Family Support

Special Needs/ Early

Intervention

Families’ access to social and child protection services to ensure children’s basic needs met & they have nurturing and stable relationships with caring adults

Early identification, assessment and inclusive services for children with special needs, disabilities, or developmental delays

Child-seeking and culturally responsive health services address developmental & medical needs of young children and mothers

Early care and education opportunities in stimulating environments where children are supported to develop confidence, self-esteem, language skills & what they need to succeed in school and life

Source: adapted from ECD Systems Working Group, Minnesota, 2007

There are successes and good practice…(Partnership REF, OSI, ISSA, UNICEF, WB, RRC….EU…..)

• Health and education mediators (Romania)

• Parenting ‘ readiness for school’ (B&H)

• CIP Pre-schoool (Serbia)

• Reform of teacher training KG …..

Yet mostly fragments of good practice, .. Some guidelines here… training material there. No comprehensive approaches that address child wellbeing in full , or have gone to scale

Elements of a comprehensive strategy

• a broad approach: Pre- and post-delivery, 0- 3 age group,

• at least 2 years high quality pre-school or ECD for all Roma children

• Community based initiatives ( especially engaging Roma women)

With special attention the 2 ‘transitions’ : family to preschool/ECD, from these to school…

UNICEF

Supported by other critical interventions:

• Setting bold targets for reduction of child poverty

• Strong links with equity in education: supporting disadvantaged children through the system

• Links to employment/ housing (remembering ECD creates jobs…)

Not only services that will need to develop, but new familylife/behaviors and activities will need to emerge. Communities must be ready to address some rather large issues (e.g. status of women)

How much can be put in place in our settings? For Roma children?

• Start where services are in place (eg outreach from health system to families)

• Make certain all elements are in place, in the same place ….

• Remains responsive and flexible

What will determine success?

• ECD as integral part Social Inclusion strategies • Accountability in addressing discrimination in social

services • Openness to experimentation and learning • Gathering and sharing evidence ( DG Employment

intiative with UNICEF)• State Champions…• Money….

UNICEF

Need for a sense of urgency

Progress is not fast enough

Shift incentives: A Fund for ECD?

Advantages of a ‘big bang’ approach

will also have a major impact on other equity issues plaguing the EU: migrants, minorities, the disabled and intolerance.

New benchmarks & results for Early Childhood Development of marginalised children Roma children

• Policies, • Community outreach• Access to quality services,• Investments• General context

Mainstream ECD (Report Card 8)

Belgian EU Presidency Roma Platform meeting December 13th 2011 focusing on ECD

UNICEF