Toolkit guide

Resources

Frameworks, guidance and monitoring tools to support each stage of policy work.

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Showing 60 of 223 resources
Framework
2020
Child Rights Impact Assessment framework (ENOC) [2.1]
Strategy
2020
WHO European CAH Strategy 2026–2030
Toolkit
2020
Helping Adolescents Thrive Toolkit (WHO and UNICEF, 2020)
Framework
2020
Operational Framework for Primary Health Care (UNICEF, 2020) [2.2]
Framework
2020
Engaged and Heard (UNICEF, 2020) | UNICEF — Engaged and Heard!
Database
2013
Mental Health Atlas 2024 [3.2]
Good practice
Icehearts
Report
Eurobarometer on screen time and social media
EU policy framework
Proposal for EU KIDS Act - 'EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy' - Shaping Europe’s digital future (European Commission, 2026)
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [1.1]
Studies
Missed opportunities: The unknown impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development in the WHO European region [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
The Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development [3.1]
Best practices
Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps. [2.3]
Studies
Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined [1.1]
Tools & Frameworks
A Healthy Start for a Healthy Life: A Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030. [1.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Early Childhood Development Toolbox [3.2]
Studies
The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high- and middle-income countries. A synthesis of evidence. Report [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [1.3]
Tools & Frameworks
Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use. [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development [1.1]
Best practices
Family-centered services for early childhood intervention: Highlighting initiatives in Croatia and Serbia [2.2]
Best practices
Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress) [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [1.3]
Studies
Policy brief: The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high and middle-income countries. Evidence for policy and program design [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.3]
Best practices
Nurturing Children's Wellbeing: Iceland's Pathway to Enhanced Rights and Access [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [1.1]

Child Rights Impact Assessment framework (ENOC) [2.1]

Common Framework of Reference on Child Rights Impact Assessment: A Guide on How to carry out CRIA (ENOC 2020)
  • Source: ENOC
  • Topic: Impact Assessment Methodology
  • Typology: Framework
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1–5

Use it to…

ensure new laws, policies and programmes consider children's rights and avoid unintended harm.

Where to look in this resource

The whole guide is relevant — the CRIA process (especially the "Assess Impact" and "Monitor and Review" stages) provides a structured way to monitor equity and rights-based impacts across different groups of children.

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WHO European CAH Strategy 2026–2030

A healthy start for a healthy life: a strategy for child and adolescent health and well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030
  • Source: WHO
  • Topic: CAH
  • Typology: Strategy
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Scope: WHO European Region

Use it to…

Connect child and adolescent mental health to broader regional health and wellbeing priorities.

Where to look in this resource

The whole strategy is relevant — it sets out the vision, priorities and strategic directions, including the mental health elements within its life-course, determinants-based approach.

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Helping Adolescents Thrive Toolkit (WHO and UNICEF, 2020)

Helping Adolescent Thrive Toolkit (WHO and UNICEF 2020)
  • Source: WHO, UNICEF
  • Topic: Guaranteeing access to early intervention and mental health services and support
  • Typology: Toolkit
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Layers 1 & 2

Use it to…

translate global recommendations into practical steps for implementation, adaptation and scale-up.

Where to look in this resource

The toolkit is organised around four Strategies — “Policies and laws”, “Environments”, “Caregivers” and “Psychosocial interventions” — each with implementation guidance and examples. The “Policies and laws” and “Environments” strategies speak to enabling environments (Layer 1); the “Environments”, “Caregivers” and “Psychosocial interventions” strategies to universal prevention (Layer 2).

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Operational Framework for Primary Health Care (UNICEF, 2020) [2.2]

Operational Framework for Primary Health Care (UNICEF 2020)
  • Source: UNICEF
  • Topic: PHC system strengtening
  • Typology: Framework
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Layer 2

Use it to…

Support integration of mental health promotion and early support into primary health care and routine child services.

Where to look in this resource

The most relevant sections are the "models of care" lever (section 3.1) , which addresses integrating services around population needs, and the core strategic levers (leadership, governance, financing, community engagement) that underpin any such integration effort (secton 2) .

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Engaged and Heard (UNICEF, 2020) | UNICEF — Engaged and Heard!

Engaged and Heard (UNICEF 2020)
  • Source: UNICEF
  • Topic: youth participation
  • Typology: Framework
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 4

Use it to…

Take a structured, evidence-informed approach to integrating adolescent perspectives into policy design, implementation and evaluation.

Where to look in this resource

The whole guide is relevant to embedding participation. Its practical core includes the essential features of meaningful participation (the "space, voice, audience and influence" framework), the modes of participation (consultative, collaborative and adolescent-led), and the sections on applying a rights-based approach and ensuring equity and inclusion — supported by tools for monitoring, evaluation and implementation across sectors.

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Mental Health Atlas 2024 [3.2]

Mental Health Atlas 2024 (WHO 2025)
  • Source: WHO
  • Topic: Mental healh
  • Typology: Database
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1 & 2

Use it to…

benchmark system-level indicators on governance, workforce, financing and service availability.

Where to look in this resource

The data on governance, financing, workforce and service availability and coverage provide the standardised system-level indicators to benchmark and track over time - alongside your country profile.

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Icehearts

  • Topic: Promising practice — long-term (12-year) relational mentoring, sport-based engagement, equity focus on children at risk of social exclusion, cross-sectoral, cost-effective.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for long-term, relationship-based support that reaches children at risk of social exclusion.

Where to look in this resource

The whole page is relevant - it summarises the main characteristics of the practice.

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Eurobarometer on screen time and social media

  • Source: European Commission
  • Topic: Digital determinants
  • Typology: Report
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

benchmark national data on adolescents' screen and social media use and build the evidence case for action on the digital determinants of mental health.

Where to look in this resource

Read the report as a whole — it covers screen time, social media use and self-reported mental and physical health symptoms (Action 1), and the role of age of first social media use, online content and parents (Action 2). Country-level results allow national benchmarking.

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Proposal for EU KIDS Act - 'EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy' - Shaping Europe’s digital future (European Commission, 2026)

  • Source: European Commission
  • Topic: Digital determinants
  • Typology: EU policy framework
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

align national action on children's digital wellbeing with the emerging EU regulatory framework for online safety.

Where to look in this resource

The accompanying Communication ('An EU approach to online child safety') giveS the most accessible overview; the proposal itself sets out the age rules and safety-by-design obligations, and the Staff Working Document analyses expected impacts.

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [1.1]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- Description and definition of ECI (pgs. 31-32), its relevance to and the science towards children's development (pgs. 33-48) and understanding it as a rights issue (pgs. 48- 50) - Description of ECI's goals and practice (pgs. 50-51)

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Missed opportunities: The unknown impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development in the WHO European region [2.1]

Missed opportunities: The unknown impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development in the WHO European region
  • Topic: Early Detection
  • Typology: Studies
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

The report helps policymakers understand where early childhood needs were overlooked during the pandemic and why this matters for long‑term health, equity, and human capital. It provides evidence to inform recovery planning, strengthen resilience in ECD systems, and ensure young children are prioritized in future emergencies.

Where to look in this resource

Highlights how disruptions to health services can lead to widespread missed opportunities for early detection, strengthening the case for resilient system design and the need for intervention

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The Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development [3.1]

The Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

The framework helps policymakers align national strategies with evidence‑based, rights‑based approaches to early childhood development. It provides a common reference to support coordinated action across sectors, enabling more effective investments that improve population health, social outcomes, and long‑term economic development.

Where to look in this resource

Chapter 5 sets out areas for policy intervention across the health, education and social care sectors.

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Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps. [2.3]

Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps.
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Key recommendations for policymakers are included, as well as evidence from across Europe

Where to look in this resource

-Pages 8-9 set out key recommendations and summary of findings from across European countries

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Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined [1.1]

Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Studies
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

It provides a robust scientific rationale for prioritising early childhood development within public health and NCD prevention strategies, framing ECD as a determinant of lifelong health rather than solely an education or social issue

Where to look in this resource

Pages 5-13 outline the evidence that early childhood experiences have a lifelong impact on health and wellbeing. Page 14-17 highlight key areas for policy intervention, such as parenting support and recommendations for primary health care.

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A Healthy Start for a Healthy Life: A Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030. [1.2]

A healthy start for a healthy life: a strategy for child and adolescent health and well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Sets out comprehensive actions for Child Health

Where to look in this resource

Identifies key priority areas with concrete actions for supportingchild health and wellbeing

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Early Childhood Development Toolbox [3.2]

Early Childhood Development Toolbox
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

It supports policymakers in bridging national ECD policy objectives with local implementation realities, particularly in decentralized governance systems.

Where to look in this resource

Tools to develop practical indicators, shared data platforms and participatory monitoring approaches

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The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high- and middle-income countries. A synthesis of evidence. Report [2.2]

  • Topic: Parenting support, ECD
  • Typology: Studies
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 10

Use it to…

Can inform advocacy and policy design to enhance the health and development of young children, with a specific focus on home visiting services.

Where to look in this resource

Inform advocacy and policy design to enhance the health and development of young children, with a specific focus on home visiting services

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [1.3]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- Description and definition of ECI (pgs. 31-32), its relevance to and the science towards children's development (pgs. 33-48) and understanding it as a rights issue (pgs. 48- 50) - Description of ECI's goals and practice (pgs. 50-51) - Case study of Portugal's SNIPI ECI approach including its history and development (pgs. 53- 64), legislation (pg. 57; 63-64), goals (pgs. 58-59), ministerial and local structures (pgs. 59-63) - Recommended practices in ECI overview (pgs. 67-68; 90-91)

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Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use. [2.1]

Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use.
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

A useful analysis to facilitate selection of the most appropriate monitoring tools

Where to look in this resource

-The results include a heat map of accuracy and feasibility ratings for each measurement tool as well as an overview of each tool assessed

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Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.1]

Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-4

Use it to…

The framework offers policymakers a coherent, evidence‑based structure for designing and aligning national ECD strategies across sectors. It supports informed decision‑making by highlighting priority actions that contribute to improved child outcomes, social cohesion, and long‑term human capital development.

Where to look in this resource

Pages 1-11 highlight the background and key areas for action for development, nutrition and physical health, to support the case for ECD policies

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Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development [1.1]

Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1,3

Use it to…

A summary of key data relating to early childhood development at country level

Where to look in this resource

Data can be used to inform policy, compare across countries and make the case for investment areas in ECD as well as for monitoring where data is currently unavailable

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Family-centered services for early childhood intervention: Highlighting initiatives in Croatia and Serbia [2.2]

Family-centered services for early childhood intervention: Highlighting initiatives in Croatia and Serbia
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 5

Use it to…

It provides concrete examples of how family‑centred ECI principles can be operationalised within public systems, supporting policy discussions on feasibility, service design, and system reform.

Where to look in this resource

Pages 3-7 outline best practice examples for using situation analyses to identify evidence, and for improving design and delivery of ECI services

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Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress) [3.1]

Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress)
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Demonstrates how countries can monitor implementation of a national ECD strategy through regular reporting, accountability mechanisms and performance tracking

Where to look in this resource

An example of monitoring and evaluation of national ECD policies, with implementation and accountability mechanisms

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [1.3]

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides evidence to support workforce planning decisions critical for scaling parenting support services and ensuring quality and consistency.

Where to look in this resource

It provides evidence for the need for responsive parenting in the early years (p.10), and how disadvantage affects parents ability to provide nurturing care (Annex I)

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Policy brief: The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high and middle-income countries. Evidence for policy and program design [2.2]

  • Topic: Parenting support, ECD
  • Typology: Studies
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 10

Use it to…

The Policy Brief offers useful advocacy and policy guidance for promoting home visiting for young children and families as a key strategy to improve health and development in early chidhood.

Where to look in this resource

Advocacy and policy guidance for promoting home visiting for young children and families as a key strategy to improve health and development in early childhood.

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.2]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 5-6

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- Case study of Portugal's SNIPI ECI approach including its history and development (pgs. 53- 64), legislation (pg. 57; 63-64), goals (pgs. 58-59), ministerial and local structures (pgs. 59-63)

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Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [2.1]

Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It helps policymakers generate robust, evidence‑based insights into the strengths and weaknesses of early childhood intervention systems. It supports informed decision‑making, policy development, and strategic investment to improve early identification, support, and outcomes for children with developmental risks or disabilities

Where to look in this resource

It provides an overview of what early childhood intervention services entails (p.21-25), a theory of change to support policymakers in defining objectives and outcomes (p.30) alongside an overview of different research methodologies to support an analysis of the ECD landscape (in relation to objectives and outcomes described in the theory of change) (Chapters 6-8)

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Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.3]

Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

The framework offers policymakers a coherent, evidence‑based structure for designing and aligning national ECD strategies across sectors. It supports informed decision‑making by highlighting priority actions that contribute to improved child outcomes, social cohesion, and long‑term human capital development.

Where to look in this resource

The framework sets out key action points across areas for policy intervention, including monitoring and surveillance.

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Nurturing Children's Wellbeing: Iceland's Pathway to Enhanced Rights and Access [2.2]

  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of cross-sectoral governance, integrated service delivery, early intervention, and rights-based approaches to improving child health and wellbeing. It demonstrates how legislation, coordination mechanisms, and sustained investment can strengthen support for children and families.

Where to look in this resource

Can be used as a promising practice example to inform early childhood legislation and policy.

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Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [1.1]

Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

It helps policymakers generate robust, evidence‑based insights into the strengths and weaknesses of early childhood intervention systems. It supports informed decision‑making, policy development, and strategic investment to improve early identification, support, and outcomes for children with developmental risks or disabilities

Where to look in this resource

It provides an overview of what early childhood intervention services entails (p.21-25), a theory of change to support policymakers in defining objectives and outcomes (p.30) alongside an overview of different research methodologies to support an analysis of the ECD landscape (in relation to objectives and outcomes described in the theory of change) (Chapters 6-8)

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