Toolkit guide
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Use it to…
It helps policymakers identify how family and gender policies interact with ECD and parenting support objectives, supporting more equitable policy design.
Where to look in this resource
The mapping tool can help to identify whether parenting support services are gender responsive.
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UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region
Area
2.1
Description

The resource reviews national family policies such as parental leave, childcare support, and social protection measures through a gender lens. It highlights variations across countries and identifies common gaps affecting caregivers’ ability to provide nurturing care. The mapping supports comparative analysis and policy benchmarking.

Brief description
This mapping provides an overview of family policies across the region, with a focus on gender responsiveness and caregiver support.
Keywords
gender equality; family policy; parental leave; policy benchmarking; caregiver support
Resource Title
UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Use it to…
It helps policymakers identify how family and gender policies interact with ECD and parenting support objectives, supporting more equitable policy design.
Where to look in this resource
Mapping work across 21 countries to assess the status of 10 gender-responsive family policies: maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, carer’s leave, flexible working arrangements, the early childhood education and care system, the pre-primary education system, paid breastfeeding breaks, sick leave, and family and child benefits.
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UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region
Area
1.3
Description

The resource reviews national family policies such as parental leave, childcare support, and social protection measures through a gender lens. It highlights variations across countries and identifies common gaps affecting caregivers’ ability to provide nurturing care. The mapping supports comparative analysis and policy benchmarking.

Brief description
This mapping provides an overview of family policies across the region, with a focus on gender responsiveness and caregiver support.
Keywords
gender equality; family policy; parental leave; policy benchmarking; caregiver support
Resource Title
UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 3
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
Appendix 7 describes how to undertake monitoring and quality assurance of services delivered in relation to the parent support workforce. Page 43
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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Area
3.1
Description

The assessment tool helps countries examine who delivers parenting support services, what competencies they possess, and where additional training or institutional support may be required. It enables analysis across different providers and sectors, including health, social services, and community‑based programmes. Findings can inform workforce development strategies and resource allocation.

Brief description
This tool supports assessment of workforce capacity, skills, and gaps among personnel delivering parenting support services.
Keywords
layered services; nurturing care; service design; financing models; family-centred care
Resource Title
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 1, 3
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 guidance specific to evaluating parenting support services, such focusing on outcomes related to parental needs and behaviours (p.50) alongside general evaluation principles such as using a theory of change to guide evaluation outcomes, and integrating new data capture into existing data capabilities

The tool describes how key stakeholders (from nutrition, education, health, social and child protection, and all levels of government) need to come together to prioritize areas for attention related to supporting and strengthening the parent support workforce. Pages 10-11.
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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Area
2.3
Description

The assessment tool helps countries examine who delivers parenting support services, what competencies they possess, and where additional training or institutional support may be required. It enables analysis across different providers and sectors, including health, social services, and community‑based programmes. Findings can inform workforce development strategies and resource allocation.

Brief description
This tool supports assessment of workforce capacity, skills, and gaps among personnel delivering parenting support services.
Keywords
layered services; nurturing care; service design; financing models; family-centred care
Resource Title
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
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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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Area
2.2
Description

The assessment tool helps countries examine who delivers parenting support services, what competencies they possess, and where additional training or institutional support may be required. It enables analysis across different providers and sectors, including health, social services, and community‑based programmes. Findings can inform workforce development strategies and resource allocation.

Brief description
This tool supports assessment of workforce capacity, skills, and gaps among personnel delivering parenting support services.
Keywords
layered services; nurturing care; service design; financing models; family-centred care
Resource Title
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
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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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Area
2.1
Description

The assessment tool helps countries examine who delivers parenting support services, what competencies they possess, and where additional training or institutional support may be required. It enables analysis across different providers and sectors, including health, social services, and community‑based programmes. Findings can inform workforce development strategies and resource allocation.

Brief description
This tool supports assessment of workforce capacity, skills, and gaps among personnel delivering parenting support services.
Keywords
layered services; nurturing care; service design; financing models; family-centred care
Resource Title
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Topic
Parental support
Tools & Frameworks
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)
Image
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Area
1.3
Description

The assessment tool helps countries examine who delivers parenting support services, what competencies they possess, and where additional training or institutional support may be required. It enables analysis across different providers and sectors, including health, social services, and community‑based programmes. Findings can inform workforce development strategies and resource allocation.

Brief description
This tool supports assessment of workforce capacity, skills, and gaps among personnel delivering parenting support services.
Keywords
layered services; nurturing care; service design; financing models; family-centred care
Resource Title
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
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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Early Childhood Development Toolbox
Area
3.2
Description

The toolbox compiles tools, examples, and practical guidance to help municipalities and subnational authorities strengthen ECD systems in their local contexts. It focuses on coordination across sectors, service mapping, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with national ECD strategies. The resource emphasizes the role of local governance in translating national policy commitments into consistent service delivery.

Brief description
This toolbox provides practical guidance to support local governments in planning, coordinating, and implementing early childhood development policies and services.
Keywords
local government; service mapping; stakeholder engagement; local implementation; governance
Resource Title
Early Childhood Development Toolbox
Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 2
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
It includes tools for achieving specific policy objectives. For example, detailed processes are outlined for objectives related to strengthening local governments (p.17-35), the early childhood services (p.77-85), and meeting the needs of specific groups at risk of worse ECD outcomes (p.107-138)
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Early Childhood Development Toolbox
Area
2.3
Description

The toolbox compiles tools, examples, and practical guidance to help municipalities and subnational authorities strengthen ECD systems in their local contexts. It focuses on coordination across sectors, service mapping, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with national ECD strategies. The resource emphasizes the role of local governance in translating national policy commitments into consistent service delivery.

Brief description
This toolbox provides practical guidance to support local governments in planning, coordinating, and implementing early childhood development policies and services.
Keywords
local government; service mapping; stakeholder engagement; local implementation; governance
Resource Title
Early Childhood Development Toolbox
Topic
Early Intervention
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 2
Use it to…
They provide a concrete benchmark for regulating, monitoring, and improving ECI service quality, supporting accountability and equity across public and non‑public providers.
Where to look in this resource
The last two steps outlined with USA as an example (p.13-16) are, implementation (Step 4) and ensuring sustainability (Step 5) of the desired changes. This includes adequate financing and training, and continuous outcome-based evaluations to adapt the implementation plan
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Quality Standards for Early Childhood Intervention Service Provision
Area
3.2
Description

The standards outline agreed expectations for how ECI services should be designed and delivered, covering areas such as child‑ and family‑centred approaches, service coordination, professional competencies, and continuous quality improvement. They can be used to assess existing services, guide service development, and promote consistency across providers and regions. The standards are applicable across health, education, and social service settings.

Brief description
These quality standards define the essential characteristics of high‑quality early childhood intervention services, with a focus on accessibility, inclusiveness, and family‑centred practice.
Keywords
quality standards; service improvement; professional competencies; accountability; continuous improvement
Resource Title
Quality Standards for Early Childhood Intervention Service Provision