Toolkit guide

Frühe Hilfen (Early Help)

Topic
Promising practice - supportive policy framework, institutional ownership, multiprofessional delivery, gender-responsive (engages mothers), family-feedback loops.
Tools & Frameworks
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.
30_fruhe hilfen
Health Area
Mental health & wellbeing
Age group
Prenatal – early childhood (0–3 years)
Setting
Parenting & family-based
Link
https://fruehehilfen.at/
Area
2.2
Description

Frühe Hilfen ('Early Help') provides structured support to families from the prenatal period through early childhood (0–3), with particular attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. It is delivered mainly through home visits by multiprofessional teams (social workers, nurses, midwives, psychologists, teachers) and coordinated by the federal health ministry with provincial health and child-welfare departments.

Brief description
Austria's national early-childhood family support service, focused on vulnerable families.
Country
Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein 
Keywords
Family-based , Universal prevention, Targeted prevention promotion
Resource Title
Frühe Hilfen

Next Stop: Mum

Topic
Promising practice - workforce training/task-sharing, early identification, links maternal and child mental health.
Tools & Frameworks
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.
32_next sttop
Health Area
Mental health & wellbeing
Age group
Prenatal – early childhood (0–3 years)
Setting
Parenting & family-based
Link
https://przystanekmama.szpitalzelazna.pl/
Area
2.2
Description

A postpartum depression screening programme that trains healthcare professionals — including midwives and nurses — to identify and support women experiencing postpartum depression, recognising the link between maternal mental health and early child development.

Brief description
Postpartum depression screening programme in Poland.
Country
Poland 
Keywords
Family-based · Targeted prevention, Subclinical care, postpartum depression, screening, workforce training, maternal mental health, Poland
Resource Title
Next stop: Mum

Nurse-Family Partnership

Topic
Promising practice - strong international evidence base, workforce-delivered home visiting, targets disadvantaged families.
Tools & Frameworks
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.
34_NurseFamily
Health Area
Mental health & wellbeing
Age group
Prenatal – early childhood (0–3 years)
Setting
Parenting & family-based
Link
https://nfpinternational.org/
Area
2.2
Description

An evidence-based home-visiting programme in which trained nurses regularly visit first-time, socially disadvantaged mothers from pregnancy through the child's early years, supporting maternal health, sensitive caregiving and child development. It is implemented in several European countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK).

Brief description
Home-visiting programme pairing nurses with first-time, at-risk mothers.
Country
Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK 
Keywords
Family-based · Universal prevention, nurse home visiting, disadvantaged mothers, early adversity, multi-country, evidence-based
Resource Title
Nurse-Family Partnership
Prenatal – early childhood (0–3 years)