Toolkit guide

Resources

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

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Showing 180 of 223 resources
Tools & Frameworks
Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [1.1]
Best practices
Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Universal Progressive Home Visiting: A health systems strategy for early childhood [2.1]
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 [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [1.3]
Best practices
Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland) [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [2.1]
Handbook
SUPRA Handbook (JA ImpleMENTAL, 2022) [3.1]
Guidelines
GAMA Indicators [3.2]
Guidelines
Conducting a Multisectoral Situational Analysis for MHPSS (UNICEF) [2.1]
Guidelines
GAMA Indicators [1.1]
Guidelines
Conducting a Multisectoral Situational Analysis for MHPSS (UNICEF) [1.1]
Handbook
SUPRA Handbook (JA ImpleMENTAL, 2022) [2.2]
Toolkit
Mosaic Toolkit to End Stigma (WHO, 2024)
Frameworl
EU-wide Whole School Mental Health Framework (NESET)
Good practice
Family Centres (Nordic model)
Good practice
FrĂĽhe Hilfen (Early Help)
Good practice
Strengthening Families Program
Good practice
Next Stop: Mum
Good practice
Psychology of Parenting Project (PoPP)
Good practice
Nurse-Family Partnership
Good practice
Youth Advocate Programme (YAP)
Good practice
Incredible Years (Parenting)

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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Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 [3.1]

Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of translating a national ECD strategy into a time-bound implementation plan with defined responsibilities and measurable outputs.

Where to look in this resource

An example of how to implement multisectoral ECD policies; governance and coordination arrangements

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.1]

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 an overview of entry points to delivering a parenting support service at different levels and what this entails (Universal, Targeted, and Intensive) (p.18 - 37) A helpful tool to undertake a workforce needs assessment for parent support services. Seven areas covered: 1) workforce expectations, 2) curricula, materials and resources, 3) training, supervision and career development, 4) workforce conditions and wellbeing, 5) program design, 6) enabling environment and 7) monitoring and quality assurance. Tool application on page 11.

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Universal Progressive Home Visiting: A health systems strategy for early childhood [2.1]

  • Topic: Parenting support, ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Provides important guidance for advocacy and policy design for advancing universal-progressive home visiting model for young children and families.

Where to look in this resource

Informs policy design for a UPHV model

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 [2.1]

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 highlights the need to review existing harmful practices (page 15) as well as sectors to consider for policy review

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Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.3]

  • Topic: Early intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of how national quality standards, governance, funding, and evaluation can improve access to equitable, integrated early childhood intervention services and reduce waiting times

Where to look in this resource

To understand how to implement the European Child Guarantee through a comprehensive policy framework

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Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [1.3]

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides a clear, evidence‑based justification for public investment in ECI and supports policymakers in framing early intervention as a system‑level responsibility rather than a niche or discretionary service.

Where to look in this resource

It supports policymakers to select policy priorities by providing a justification of the importance of ECI (p.4) and what a family-centred ECI service requires (p.5-6)

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Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland) [3.1]

Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland)
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Illustrates how governments can use action plans to drive reform and improvement of early years services, including funding, workforce, access and quality measures.

Where to look in this resource

An example of a practical action plan to address access and affordability of ECEC services

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.2]

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

Relevant actions: Action 7-8

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 examples of best practices (e.g., parenting intervention supports to refugees in Poland p.34), layered family-centred parenting services in Portugal, p.38), universal multisectoral parenting support in Serbia, p.29)

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Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review [2.1]

Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Offers evidence-based guidance on preventing, identifying and addressing developmental difficulties in young children. It highlights effective strategies for early detection and intervention, helps inform the design of integrated early childhood development services, and offers practical recommendations for strengthening health and support systems in resource-constrained settings

Where to look in this resource

Understand available evidence regarding prevention, identification and intervention for developmental difficulties

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.3]

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

Relevant actions: Action 2

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

Integrated, intersectoral and multidisciplinary ECI approaches and cooperation (pgs. 219-239) with practical exercises to support the approach (pgs. 238-239)

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Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [2.1]

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides a clear, evidence‑based justification for public investment in ECI and supports policymakers in framing early intervention as a system‑level responsibility rather than a niche or discretionary service.

Where to look in this resource

It supports policymakers to select policy priorities by providing a justification of the importance of ECI (p.4) and what a family-centred ECI service requires (p.5-6)

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SUPRA Handbook (JA ImpleMENTAL, 2022) [3.1]

SUPRA Handbook: An experience-based guidance document for implementing a national suicide prevention program (JA ImpleMENTAL 2022)
  • Source: JA ImplemMENTAL
  • Topic: Targeted mental health prevention
  • Typology: Handbook
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

draw on practical lessons from a European national programme that can be adapted in other contexts.

Where to look in this resource

The SUPRA concept of implementation is structured around six “Columns” — Coordination and organisation; Support and treatment; Restriction of access to means; Awareness and knowledge; Embedment in prevention and health promotion; and Quality assurance and expertise — set out with a stepwise implementation approach and monitoring and evaluation guidance.

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GAMA Indicators [3.2]

The adolescent health indicators recommended by the Global Action for Measurement of Adolescent health (WHO) -GAMA
  • Source: WHO
  • Topic: monitoring adolescent health
  • Typology: Guidelines
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1 & 2

Use it to…

track mental health and wellbeing outcomes using a standardised, comparable framework.

Where to look in this resource

The “Subjective well-being” and “Health outcomes and conditions” indicators provide the standardised, comparable measures to track; the measurement principles set out how to collect and use them consistently over time.

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Conducting a Multisectoral Situational Analysis for MHPSS (UNICEF) [2.1]

  • Source: UNICEF
  • Topic: needs assessment
  • Typology: Guidelines
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1–5

Use it to…

Conduct a structured cross-sector mapping of needs, gaps and implementation barriers.

Where to look in this resource

The whole guide is relevant — work through its "Key questions" (programme implementation and service delivery; multisectoral collaboration; financing, policy and legislation; and stigma, social norms and attitudes) and the "Methodologies" section to map existing policies, services and responses across all five review domains.

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GAMA Indicators [1.1]

The adolescent health indicators recommended by the Global Action for Measurement of Adolescent health (WHO) -GAMA
  • Source: WHO
  • Topic: monitoring adolescent health
  • Typology: Guidelines
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1 & 2

Use it to…

select indicators and strengthen monitoring and accountability over time.

Where to look in this resource

RELEVANT FOR ACTION 1 The “Subjective well-being” and “Health outcomes and conditions” indicators — for measuring and tracking mental health status RELEVANT FOR ACTION 2 The “Social, cultural, economic, educational and environmental determinants” and “Health behaviours and risks” indicators.

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Conducting a Multisectoral Situational Analysis for MHPSS (UNICEF) [1.1]

  • Source: UNICEF
  • Topic: needs assessment
  • Typology: Guidelines
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 2 & 3

Use it to…

Conduct a structured cross-sector mapping of needs, gaps and implementation barriers.

Where to look in this resource

A short, practical guide — it takes you through a structured situational analysis via four sets of “Key questions” (programme implementation and service delivery; multisectoral collaboration; financing, policy and legislation; and stigma, social norms and attitudes) and a “Methodologies” section. Most of it speaks to Action 3 (services and systems), with the stigma and norms questions also informing Action 2.

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SUPRA Handbook (JA ImpleMENTAL, 2022) [2.2]

SUPRA Handbook: An experience-based guidance document for implementing a national suicide prevention program (JA ImpleMENTAL 2022)
  • Topic: Targeted mental health prevention
  • Typology: Handbook
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Layer 3

Use it to…

design or scale up a national or regional suicide prevention strategy, drawing on a concrete, field-tested set of goals and actions rather than starting from theory alone.

Where to look in this resource

The most useful part is the detailed presentation of the SUPRA implementation model — its six strategic goals, 18 operational goals, and 70 concrete actions, organized into the "column model" — with each action tagged by prevention type (universal, selective, or indicated). A secondary, practically-oriented section is the "starting package": a prioritized set of core actions from each of the six columns, designed to be implementable within two years with manageable effort, taking into account the federal/regional division of responsibilities. This is especially useful for a policymaker who needs a realistic, sequenced entry point rather than the full programme all at once.

Mosaic Toolkit to End Stigma (WHO, 2024)

Mosaic toolkit to end stigma and discrimination in mental health
  • Source: WHO
  • Topic: stigma
  • Typology: Toolkit
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Layer 1

Use it to…

Support the design of scalable, system-level strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination, a key barrier to access, equity, and effectiveness in mental health systems.

Where to look in this resource

The whole document is relevant, as it sets out a four-step, evidence-based process — built on lived-experience leadership, social contact, and inclusive collaboration — for planning, delivering, and evaluating anti-stigma initiatives across health, workplace, school, and community settings.

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EU-wide Whole School Mental Health Framework (NESET)

Whole‑school mental health framework (NESET)
  • Source: European Commission
  • Topic: Mental health & wellbeing
  • Typology: Frameworl
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Layers 1 & 2

Use it to…

translate mental health priorities into coherent, scalable education policies, aligning school-level action with national prevention, inclusion and wellbeing strategies.

Where to look in this resource

The whole one-pager is relevant — it summarises the whole-school framework across leadership, curriculum, staff wellbeing, student participation, family engagement and links to external services.

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Family Centres (Nordic model)

Family Centres
  • Topic: Promising practice — cross-sectoral integration (health, social care, education) within one service point.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for integrated 'one-stop' early years family support hubs.

Where to look in this resource

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

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FrĂĽhe Hilfen (Early Help)

30_fruhe hilfen
  • Topic: Promising practice - supportive policy framework, institutional ownership, multiprofessional delivery, gender-responsive (engages mothers), family-feedback loops.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for strong caregiving environments for vulnerable families.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Strengthening Families Program

31_SFP
  • Topic: Promising practice - robust evidence base, strong monitoring/evaluation system, transferable with implementation support.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for evidence-based, transferable parenting and family-skills programmes.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Next Stop: Mum

32_next sttop
  • Topic: Promising practice - workforce training/task-sharing, early identification, links maternal and child mental health.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for postpartum depression screening within routine maternal care.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Psychology of Parenting Project (PoPP)

33_nesLogo
  • Topic: Promising practice - equity focus, national funding/ownership, quality assurance, scales evidence-based programmes.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for equitable scale-up of evidence-based parenting programmes.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Nurse-Family Partnership

34_NurseFamily
  • Topic: Promising practice - strong international evidence base, workforce-delivered home visiting, targets disadvantaged families.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for home-visiting support targeting early adversity in at-risk mothers.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Youth Advocate Programme (YAP)

35_youth advocate
  • Topic: Promising practice - equity/marginalised-group focus, intersectoral (justice, welfare, social care), strengths-based.
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for cross-sector advocacy support for vulnerable young people and families.

Where to look in this resource

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

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Incredible Years (Parenting)

36_ IY log0
  • Topic: Promising practice - robust evidence base, structured implementation support, transferable (note licensing costs).
  • Typology: Good practice
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for transferable, evidence-based parenting programmes.

Where to look in this resource

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

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