Preparing for the sound bit of Jazz…

Ana Maria Serrano & Noor van Loen, Eurlyaid

The goal of this presentation is to describe the efforts made by Eurlyaid in the last years to develop Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) practices based on evidence on Eastern European and Central Asia countries (Serbia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Tajikistan and Kirgizstan) with the support of organizations such as UNICEF, Open Society Foundation and Velux Foundation. The right to quality ECI is recognized by the UNCRPD, UNCRC, EPSR and SDGs. Despite some positive developments, the availability and accessibility to quality ECI programs continues to be a challenge in EU, in part due to the coexistence of “inherited” clinical and rehabilitation approaches, as well as the lack of inter-sectoral coordination between the areas of social security, health and education, attention to the professional development to ensure qualified professionals and an understanding of ECI based on evidence, key elements to ensure service delivery of systemic and family-centered ECI. Children make better progress when practitioners are professionally qualified and possess sound, sensitive approaches and knowledge in supporting families and caregivers as mediators of child development.