health Archives

Evidence Brief – Parents, Play and Emotional Wellbeing

The UK Government has recognised the impact that parents playing, talking to and reading to their children has on early language development. This is fantastic. But the benefits of play are much wider: it contributes to cognitive, motor, emotional and social development. Play should be thought of as a vehicle to improve a wide range of outcomes for children, as well as an important part of a happy childhood.

This evidence brief describes what we know about how early play between children and their parents contributes to emotional development and mental health. It also explains why and how policy makers might use this information in their work.

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Case Studies of Programmes to Promote and Protect Nurturing Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This Case Study Report, prepared in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and the LEGO Foundation, describes the implementation experiences and emerging lessons of COVID-19 response strategies of seven programmes that prioritize nurturing care and early childhood development (ECD) in their work.

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Roma Children’s Participation: Shaping Responses to COVID-19 in the EU and Bulgaria

This policy paper presents research on the impact of COVID-19 of Roma children and the barriers to their health and wellbeing and the potential of participatory responses. The findings are set in the current context of child poverty and related EU initiatives on poverty and participation. Lessons to learned are highlighted and priority actions are recommended.

This paper reports information from professionals working with young Roma, from 13 organisations in 9 European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Spain and the UK) and participatory practice with children facing discrimination.

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Healthy eating habits in children between the ages 0-3. How to raise strong and smart children?

Healthy eating habits in children between the ages 0-3. How to raise strong and smart children? / Здравословно хранене на децата от 0 до 3 години. Как да отглеждаме здрави и умни деца?

This project is part of the REYN network Bulgaria, coordinated by TSA, which aims to support the improvement of services provided to parents. In order to improve the efficacy and capacity of specialists focusing on early learning and care, the project connects REYN and a local NGO to build capacity to deliver awareness-raising sessions on the importance of preparing healthy and nutritious meals as a prerequisite for solid brain development which affects later success in school. The material in question is a brochure, developed for information purposes, by presenting useful factual information related to child nutrition importance.

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Roma Early Childhood Inclusion+ Czech Republic Report (2015)

This report on the early childhood education and care (ECEC) of young Roma children in the Czech Republic departs somewhat in its approach from previous Roma Early Childhood Inclusion (RECI+) Studies and Reports. The preparation of this report was led by the Open Society Foundations. The RECI initiative, which is ongoing, is a joint venture of three Sponsoring Agencies, namely: the Open Society Foundations Early Childhood Program, the Roma Education Fund, and UNICEF.

The principle reasons for a Special Report on Roma Inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care at this stage of events, and not a full RECI+ Research Study and Report, include: the critical importance of ECEC for all children, particularly those
from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds;1 the pressing need for a timely contribution to the ongoing legislative actions and important national debates surrounding Roma education and inclusion in the Czech Republic; and to assist and support the government and public authorities, and educational decision makers and practitioners tasked with fulfilling their responsibilities in a context of critical international scrutiny.

Read the report in Czech here.

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Closing the life expectancy gap of Roma in Europe

Category: EU Policy and Advocacy on ECEC | Types of resource: Report | Year: 2019 | Region: European region |

A report by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) focuses on how socioeconomic preconditions affect the health of Roma in Europe. Infant mortality is reported to be between two to three times higher than majority population.

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Roma Health Report: data collection in the Member States of the European Union

The purpose of this report is to provide an evidence-based review of literature on Roma health, covering 2008-2013 and the following indicators:

1. Mortality and life expectancy
2. Prevalence of major infectious diseases
3. Healthy life styles and related behaviours
4. Access and use of health services and prevention programmes
5. Prevalence of major chronic diseases
6. Health factors related to the role of women in the Roma community
7. Environmental and other socio-economic factors

The methodology used was based on two steps: (i) Desk Research based on the review of secondary data (a literature review); and (ii) Fieldwork collecting primary data through semi-structured interviews.