Child Policy Research Articles

Reglas informales y centro de gobierno: la reforma de las políticas de infancia en el presidencialismo chileno (2014-2018)

Presidentialism has been widely studied in Latin America. Nonetheless, its impact on the policy making remains largely unexplored. This article analyzes the role and influence played by ministries and informal rules in the case of Chilean childhood policy reform (2014-2018), elaborated in a presidential system with a fairly institutionalized center of government. The methodological approach is mainly based on a set of in-depth interviews. The results show that in a first moment informal rules overlap formal ones whereas in a second moment there is a decoupling between formal institutions and informal rules, with Ministries playing a larger role. The conclusion is reached that the relation between formal and informal institutions is not static, but it responds to dynamic balances of power. Therefore, article aims to reflect on the role of informal rules to understand public policy-making in presidential regimes, as well as the need for discussing alternatives to institutionalize the center of government.

Prevalence of Social Determinants of Health Among Sexual Minority Women and Men in 2017

Inequities in social determinants of health are plausible contributors to worse health of sexual minorities relative to heterosexuals. Sexual minorities may have higher rates of housing, food, and financial insecurity as adults owing to adverse childhood experiences or policies that induce social disadvantage. This study compares the prevalence of 3 types of social determinants of health among sexual minority and heterosexual adults. Data were from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2017 survey of U.S. states that administered the optional Social Determinants of Health module and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity modules. In August 2019, authors estimated the odds of food, housing, and financial insecurity among sexual minority men and women, compared with heterosexuals. Sexual minority women and men had higher odds of housing insecurity, housing instability, and food insecurity, but no differences were observed for perceived neighborhood safety. Sexual minority women had higher odds of financial insecurity than their heterosexual peers. Sexual minorities have more housing and food insecurity than heterosexuals, which may contribute to their risk for poorer health. Future research should address the causes and consequences of these differences.

Evaluating Early Childhood Policies: An Estimable Model of Family Child Investments

I develop and estimate a technology of skill formation nested within a collective model of household behavior to evaluate the effect of various early childhood interventions. The model incorporates different channels of parental investments in children such as time, material investments, and childcare services. I estimate the model in a novel dataset from Chile and evaluate the effects on child development of three policies currently operating in the country: cash transfers, childcare subsidies, and subsidies to child-specific goods. In Chile, as is common in various countries implementing cash transfers to poor households, women are the recipient of cash transfers in bi-parental households with the idea that cash in the hands of women translate into better child outcomes. To allow for different outcomes depending on the recipient of cash transfers, in the model, household decisions are the outcome of a bargaining process between parents with different preferences. I find that cash transfers to women have limited effect on their bargaining power and that subsidies to child-specific goods are much more effective than childcare subsidies or cash transfers. Childcare subsidies increase female labor force participation but do not raise significantly skills of children.

Translating and Implementing Evidence-Based Mental Health Services in Child Welfare.

Children in the child welfare system with mental health difficulties seldom receive evidence-based treatment (EBT) despite the abundance of validated interventions that exist. This manuscript describes two projects aimed at increasing access to EBTs. The first is a completed field trial of an adapted parent-child interaction therapy intervention with foster-parent child dyads. New findings are presented from variable- and person-centered analyses of impact on diverse symptom profiles. The second is an ongoing statewide initiative that is increasing access to multiple EBTs while navigating implementation barriers. Lessons learned for bridging gaps between children's mental health research, services, and policy are discussed.

Exploring Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Acceptability, Usability, and Dissemination of the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years.

Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years were recently developed. To maximize the uptake of the guidelines, perceptions of key stakeholders were sought. Thirty-five stakeholders (11% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent) participated in focus groups or key informant interviews. Stakeholders included parents of children aged 0-5 years, early childhood educators, and health and policy professionals, recruited using convenience and snowballing techniques. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. There was general acceptance of the Movement Guidelines. The stakeholders suggested that the Guidelines were highly aspirational and needed to be carefully messaged, so parents did not feel guilty if their child was not meeting them. Stakeholders identified that the messaging needed to be culturally appropriate and visually appealing. Dissemination strategies differed depending on the stakeholder. Seeking stakeholder perceptions is an important process in the development of national Movement Guidelines. This study successfully examined stakeholders' perceptions regarding the acceptability, usability, and dissemination of the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Effective and innovative strategies for maximizing compliance and uptake of the Guidelines should be prioritized.

A infância é um direito?

In this article, we intend to discuss the children’s right to the city, assuming their role as "spatialists" who participate in the transformation of public spaces into meaningful places. The signs of change in the conditions and dispositions of society in relation to the presence of children, as a moving body that transits between unequal spaces, bring with them common territories to different disciplines that investigate childhood. Thus, we situate here the contribution that environmental psychology offers to the dialogue between areas of knowledge that problematize the physical and social invisibility of children and demand public policies for childhood as a condition of citizenship.

Understanding the Implementation of Early Childhood Policies around Cultural Competencies: Teachers’ and Indian Parents’ Partnership in Engaging Young Children

Understanding the Implementation of Early Childhood Policies around Cultural Competencies: Teachers’ and Indian Parents’ Partnership in Engaging Young Children

Understanding the Implementation of Early Childhood Policies around Cultural Competencies: Teachers’ and Indian Parents’ Partnership in Engaging Young Children

Understanding the Implementation of Early Childhood Policies around Cultural Competencies: Teachers’ and Indian Parents’ Partnership in Engaging Young Children

Additive and synergistic relations of early mother-child and caregiver-child interactions for predicting later achievement.

This study examines associations between stimulating-responsive social interactions with mothers and nonparental childcare providers during the first 3 years of life and children's vocabulary and mathematics skills through age 15 (N = 1,364). Additive relations were found in which more stimulating-responsive interactions with mothers and with caregivers were linked to higher mathematics achievement in childhood and adolescence. More stimulating-responsive early interactions with mothers were also associated with larger child vocabularies through age 15. Synergistic relations, consistent with the dual-risk hypothesis, also were found. Children whose early interactions with both mothers and caregivers were low in stimulation and responsivity had substantially lower mathematics skills. Implications for early childhood interventions and policies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Sustaining collaborative preschool partnerships and the challenges of educating the whole child

IntroductionOur study examined whole-child preschool programming from a policy perspective. We suggest that whole-child wellness must include sustainable approaches that are systematic and holistic approaches for educating children. The Preschool Partnership Grant was a means of funding preschool districts, who successfully applied for the grant across our state to initiate, continue, and sustain quality programming with their respective local preschool partners. Funding also enabled districts to increase access to quality programming while fostering kindergarten readiness in participating children.Case descriptionWe conducted a case study by analyzing data provided by district Preschool Partnership Grantees. Data included quantitative measures of district and partner preschools and open-ended items describing professional development opportunities, holistic interventions, and effective preschool activities afforded by grant funding.ResultsGrant recipients (n = 79) reported that they engaged in a number of different public and private partnerships. They reported being able to serve more children due to grant funding, and gave a variety of reasons for serving more children, with improved collaboration being the most reported reason. District grantees also indicated increased consultation, intervention services, and professional development opportunities through grant funding. Finally, they reported on key challenges they faced during the grant period.Discussion and evaluationData suggested that school districts recognized the importance of collaboration, trust, and relationship building among districts, partners, and families. Descriptive data indicated the importance of sustaining quality programming during the grant period. Districts also clearly voiced their appreciation of the importance of relationships and collaboration among key stakeholders who touched the lives of children enrolled in the grantee districts.ConclusionsOur study suggests that early childhood policy should enable systematic and sustainable partnerships that approach preschool programming from a holistic perspective.

Implementation of Inclusive Education Policy for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Junior High Schools in Magetan Regency

Implementation of Inclusive Education Policy for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Junior High Schools in Magetan Regency

Devastating impacts? Investigating ‘edu-quality’ discourse in early childhood policy and its implications

ABSTRACT Within the broad landscape of early childhood education and care politics and policies, calling quality reform into question is a political act. As numerous scholars have pointed out, policy structures that measure and identify what constitutes quality (and what does not) are not value-free and reflect neoliberal human capital economic agenda whose effects are rapidly changing early childhood work. This paper investigates how quality reform in the early childhood sector has reinvigorated historical distinctions between early education and early care to elevate early education as ‘quality’ via standardisation and systematisation regimes. Drawing on the Australian context as a local example relational to the global, the paper theorises that ‘edu-quality’ discourse and agenda problematically constructs early care work as intertwined with but also separate from early education inputs and outputs, attributing it unequal import and impact. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for sector stakeholders and advocates to challenge the ontological and epistemological distinctions and conflations that underpin edu-quality politics and policies.

Tobacco use in local authority children's homes: a socioecological exploration of influences

BackgroundResearch on tobacco use among looked-after children (LAC) has primarily focused on the individual characteristics of young people in care. We aimed to conceptualise additional factors influencing tobacco use by young people living in English local authority children's homes from a policy and provider perspective. MethodsWe did a socioecological analysis of existing data, which included an evaluation of LAC health assessment documentation (n=31 cases), a survey of residential carers in six local authorities in the East Midlands (n=42 respondents), and semi-structured interviews with residential carers (n=14) working in three children's homes operated by one local authority in the East Midlands. We thematically coded and mapped these data to the social ecological model for health promotion to identify and understand the interplay of influences on tobacco use. Collaborative consensus was reached on coding and interpretation. We chose the social ecological model for its potential to answer questions about how to address tobacco use and highlight potential leverage points. Findings32 factors influencing tobacco use were identified: intrapersonal level (n=10), interpersonal level (n=9), institutional level (n=6), community level (n=3), and macro-organisational (policy) level (n=4). The challenge of balancing child protection responsibilities and safeguarding, with expected parenting practices were highlighted. Institutional, organisational, and community strategies were found to facilitate tobacco use. For example, provision of designated smoking areas in the grounds of the homes and the ease at which young people can purchase tobacco in the local area were compounded by the scarcity of policy monitoring and information sharing at the macro-organisational level. Some data fell outside of individual chose the social ecological model levels, requiring a degree of researcher interpretation. InterpretationVarious influences across and within multiple levels of the care system might complicate and compound typical youth smoking influences and measures to address them. We recommend that, in the development of smoke-free children's home policies, local authorities should be guided by the experiences and knowledge of carers and be cognisant of previous implementation challenges or successes to enable informed and contextually relevant strategies to be developed and implemented. This study offers a much-needed direction for developing and testing tobacco-related interventions targeting this vulnerable population. FundingUniversity of Nottingham PhD studentship and the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies.

Data practices and inequality in South African early childhood development policy: Technocratic management versus social transformation

Background: In 1994, the African National Congress identified early childhood development as a potential strategy to redress the inequalities of apartheid, however, two and a half decades later, poverty still persists, and South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world. Aim: This article explores how policy texts based on and with the use of certain data practices establish ‘truths’ about childhoods and society, construct families and communities, and determine forms of provision to address inequality. Setting: In 2015, the South African government published the National Integrated Early Childhood Policy (NIECDP) to continue to address poverty and inequality. Its implementation increasingly draws on data practices that measure and inform solutions. The use of data practices, while also providing needed information, prioritises solutions that proceed in technocratic ways instead of facilitating social change. Methods: With a critical discourse analysis of policy texts and the introduction of alternatives, the analysis seeks to highlight the power and knowledge hierarchies that construct the policies of NIECDP. Results: This article demonstrates how discourses and data practices prioritise ‘the government of poverty’ instead of helping to eliminate it and silence the voices of those living with poverty. This form of government through data also undermines the policy’s potential to respond to the different life chances resulting from the diverse conditions in which young children live in South Africa. Conclusion: This article seeks to re-open a debate that the NIECDP successfully silenced, specifically who benefits, who speaks and who is silenced.

Towards a relevant and sustainable juvenile justice system in Ghana

ABSTRACTSince 2010, there have been series of discussions by stakeholders to revamp Ghana’s current juvenile justice system to make it more relevant and sustainable within Ghana’s domestic context. These efforts led to the adoption of the Justice for Children Policy (J4CP) by cabinet in 2015. Using a qualitative analysis of secondary data, this preliminary paper assesses whether the J4CP enhances Ghana’s quest for a relevant, domesticated, efficient, and sustainable juvenile justice system with Ghana’s socio-cultural context and the SDG standards as the standard of measurement. The paper argues that the J4CP embodies elements of relevance, affordability, accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. However, the new policy also faces formidable technical, philosophical, and other resource challenges. Consequently, the paper concludes that the J4CP is only a good first step towards creating a domesticated and relevant juvenile justice system in Ghana.

Problematising policies for workforce reform in early childhood education: a rhetorical analysis of England’s Early Years Teacher Status

ABSTRACT This paper examines workforce reform in early childhood education in England, specifically the policy trajectory that led to implementation of the Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) qualification in 2014. Taking a critical perspective on policy analysis, the paper uses rhetorical analysis to make sense of the how EYTS is understood within workforce reform. From an assemblage of salient policy documents, we report our critical analysis of two key texts: Foundations for Quality and More Great Childcare. Both documents identify policy levers and drivers for reform, but from markedly different perspectives and with contrasting recommendations. By using rhetorical analysis to examine how these policy texts construct not only problems but also preferred solutions, we illustrate the paradoxical nature of early childhood policy in England as it relates to aspirations to raise the status of the sector and improve quality through the implementation of EYTS.

Setting the Stage for our Next Strategic Plan

Our days as busy pediatric advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are filled with addressing the urgent concerns of our patients and families. Amidst the intensity of all the critical conversations and complex decision making, it is important to reflect on how the work we do today will impact the future of our patients’ health and wellbeing. This year, we have a unique opportunity to craft the association's response to current trends in pediatric health and pediatric advanced nursing practice by developing our next three-year strategic plan. Our current strategic plan included the following priorities: leadership and mentorship, engagement, advocacy, professional practice, awareness and influence, and organizational operations and sustainability (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) 2016National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)2016-19 Strategic Plan.2016https://www.napnap.org/2016-19-strategic-planGoogle Scholar). As we prepare for this process, our plan should mirror the current and evolving health care landscape. New priorities may focus on identifying innovative models of health care teams, investment in clinical care approaches to address social determinants of health, or carefully examining our patients’ interaction with social media and other technology platforms. We may need to advocate for policies which aim to expand access to coordinated care models for children with medical complexity or better characterize the unmet mental health care needs of children and adolescents. Finding ways to support provider wellness and prevent burnout will help ensure that we are all caring for ourselves and therefore, our patients, in the best way possible. NAPNAP, along with other pediatric-focused stakeholders, have the opportunity to lead research, understand, and advocate for these pressing health care needs, along with many other child health and professional topics. As with any new initiative, our approach will need to be thoughtful, intentional, and representative of many diverse and competing health care priorities. It is essential to learn from our past accomplishments and where we have opportunity to improve upon operational projects which are already underway. A review of current evidence will help identify where our shortcomings reside in meeting the demands of children's health care needs. We need to rely on the expertise of our leaders, that is, special interest group and chapter officers, committee chairs, and community partners, to better understand regional and local trends. Finally, staying abreast of current developments in children's health policy and regulatory changes will aid in placing NAPNAP as a trusted authority in advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. The investment we place into this process will successfully lead to a current, well-informed, and comprehensive new direction for our association. I encourage your commitment to this process by getting involved in the association's programs, service offerings, and outreach. In just the last year, NAPNAP started on its journey of exploring diversity and inclusion as it relates to our members and the patients we care for. Through NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth and the Alliance of Children in Trafficking, we continue to identify and support efforts to advocate for children at-risk for significant health outcomes. The numerous opportunities to volunteer can be easily matched with your interests, no matter where you are in your career trajectory. Join a Special Interest Group to share your knowledge and learn from others in the same specialty. Attend chapter events to network with local colleagues and inform one another of changes in your community. Respond to calls for action, participate in our child health learning collaborative calls, and build relationships with your local legislators. Policy makers need to hear your voice and perspective on policies which directly impact children. Arm yourself with the most recent evidence to inform your practice by attending our national conference, specialty symposia, or courses from NAPNAP's pedsCE™ online database. Consider submitting a paper to the Journal of Pediatric Health Care or submit an abstract to the annual conference to disseminate your research and clinical expertise with others. I am truly looking forward to my year as President of NAPNAP. I am so inspired by the conviction of our members, who are committed to improving child health outcomes. Our collaborative teamwork as APRNs, no matter in which state or what setting, cannot be underestimated. I will keep members appraised of the progress of NAPNAP's strategic planning and welcome your feedback at any time. All of us have a responsibility to ensure our patients grow up to be healthy and resilient members of society. I, for one, am proud to be a part of that journey.

National Policies and Intervention Programs on Childhood Obesity Prevention in China (P22-018-19)

ObjectivesThis study examined:1) prevalence of overweight and obesity (ov/ob) in children aged 0–18 y in China, 2) national policies and intervention programs on childhood obesity in China since 1949, and 3) provided recommendations for future work. MethodsLiterature search and expert consultation were conducted to identify childhood obesity related national intervention programs and policies in China since 1949. We systematically searched: a) Baidu.com, the dominant search engine in China, b) official websites of national-level government sectors, c) Chinese databases: CNKI and Wanfang from 1949 to 2018, and d) google.com. 20 leading international (eg, from the US) and national (from China) experts on childhood obesity were surveyed in November-December 2018. ResultsIn China prevalence of ov/ob increased from 5.8% in 1991 to 9.5% in 2011 in preschool children (2–6 y), and from 8.0% in 1985 to 27.9% in 2014 in school children (7–18 y).Development of national policies on childhood obesity prevention experienced 3 stages: 1) 1949–1994: Childhood ov/ob were low, related research and national surveys emerged; 2) 1995–2010: childhood ov/ob increased rapidly, related policies and intervention programs were gradually established; 3) 2011-: policies focused on improving nutrition status of children in poor areas, establishing monitoring systems, but effectiveness of these polices was not assessed.Nine major national intervention programs were identified. Institutions implementing the interventions mainly included the State Council and institutions directly under the State Council. The programs focused on preschool or school children and aimed to promote physical activity (eg, “The Happy 10 Minutes Program”) and healthy eating (eg, School Meal Program). No interventions targeted at improving environments. Effectiveness of the programs was not reported. ConclusionsChildhood ov/ob has increased rapidly in China, with the fastest increase among major countries and has the largest number of ov/ob children in the world. Compared to many industrialized countries, national policies and interventions on childhood obesity in China are limited, more future efforts are needed and publishing the Chinese Obesity Blue Paper help fill a gap. Funding SourcesUnited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Voices heard and lessons learnt: Exploring multiple knowledges and local participation in a community-based integrated early childhood development project in rural South Africa

Abstract Following calls for diverse and contextual perspectives of the rich lives of young children, their families and communities from/in the Global South, this paper presents critical reflections emerging from a three-year (2016-2019) communitybased Integrated Approach to Early Childhood Development (ECD) project implemented in the rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It explores the critical relationship established between a range of stakeholders involved in this project as reflected on by two community activists working together in the area of early childhood in the province for thirty years. This article highlights the importance of situating any community development initiative aimed at addressing early childhood provision in marginalised communities within a social justice framework. This includes identifying constraints inherent in unequal relations of power that risk undermining solidarity and agency for community stakeholders. It foregrounds accountability measures that emerge from local initiatives rather than from narrow predetermined project outcomes. This provides an opportunity to learn from, and engage with, experiences from the margins, thereby challenging some dominant narratives circulating, and often informing, early childhood policy and provision.

The Public-Private Partnership Model in the Management of Early Childhood Policy in Medellin: Case Study

Objective: State outsourcing of the provision of health care policies is part of the neoliberal model. Early childhood policy in Medellin is managed under the public-private partnership modality with private non-profit institutions. The purpose of this study was to establish the philosophical foundations of the policy, the state’s control over the policy, pressure from interest groups and the working conditions of workers. Method: It is a qualitative study. Results: It was found that the philosophical foundations of the policy are public because the rights of the child inspire it; the state (city government) leads the policy, defines the guidelines and supervises compliance of objectives. However, the policy is carried out at the expense of the labor rights of professionals, and there is pressure on hiring by interest groups. Conclusion: The outsourcing of public policies to local non-profit organizations has adverse outcomes similar to policy outsourcing carried out through private companies.