Assessing the quality, extent, and access to existing services for children (and their families) who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities in the Međimurje County and facilitating the development of the Action Plan for Early Childhood Intervention for the Međimurje County

In mid-2020, UNICEF Office in Croatia started the implementation of the two-year program Phase III – Testing the Child Guarantee in Croatia in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy and the Međimurje County. The program was initiated by the European Commission and is financed by the European Union with a final goal of breaking the cycle of child poverty and social exclusion in the EU.

After the public call, UNICEF Office in Croatia selected MAP Consulting to conduct a part of activities under the program’s third specific goal which is improving the access of children (age 0-7) who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities, and their families to integrated and coordinated Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services.

Therefore, MAP's task is to map and thoroughly analyse available resources of health, social care and early education services in the Međimurje County for delivering integrated and coordinated ECI services, with special focus on their quality, accessibility, weaknesses, scope and contribution to the real needs of children and their families. In an effort to initiate positive changes and improvements of the existing services in this county, the results will serve as a basis for the development of the integrated Action Plan for Early Childhood Intervention for the Međimurje County, while MAP will provide technical support and facilitate its development process.

During the analysis, MAP researchers will combine different qualitative and quantitative research methods, and analyse data gathered from a number of key stakeholders. Thus, the research will encompass the following methods:

-      analysis of the legislative and strategic documents on the national, regional and local level in order to assess the current policy framework for the implementation of ECI and Early Childhood Development (ECD) services;

-      analysis of the available data on the national and regional level to identify the number of service users, active service providers, as well as to estimate the number of children and families in need for these services or whose development should be monitored due to exposure to specific biological, social and environmental factors;

-      standardized surveys with paediatricians and family doctors whose patients are children, patronage services, experts employed in kindergartens and parents of the children who receive ECI and ECD services;

-      semi-structured individual and group interviews with the county’s social welfare centres, officials in relevant departments in the Čakovec County Hospital, officials in county and local executive departments for health and social welfare as well with providers of ECI and psychosocial support services;

-      focus group with the parents of the children who receive ECI and ECD services.

© MAP Consulting Ltd., 2021: “The information and views set out in this web announcement are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.”