The integration and coordination of health, education, nutrition, social protection, and other services have the potential to improve the lives of children and their caregivers around the world. However, integration and coordination of policies and programs affecting early childhood development can create both risks and benefits. In different localities, these services are more or less effective in achieving their objectives. They also are more or less coordinated in delivering services to the same recipients, and in some cases services are delivered by integrated multisectoral organizations. The result is a rich arena for policy analysis and change and a complex challenge for public- and private-sector organizations that are seeking to improve the lives of children.

To examine the science and policy issues involved in coordinating investments in children and their caregivers, the Forum on Investing in Young Children Globally held a workshop in Hong Kong on March 14-15, 2015. Held in partnership with the Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion and Wu Yee Sun College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the workshop brought together researchers, policy makers, program practitioners, and other experts from 22 countries. This report highlights the presentations and discussions of the event.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• PLANNING COMMITTEE ON USING EXISTING PLATFORMS TO INTEGRATE AND COORDINATE INVESTMENTS FOR CHILDREN
• FORUM ON INVESTING IN YOUNG CHILDREN GLOBALLY
• BOARD ON GLOBAL HEALTH
• BOARD ON CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
• Reviewers
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction and Overview
  • OVERVIEW AND PROMINENT TOPICS OF THE WORKSHOP
  • ORGANIZATION OF THE SUMMARY
• 2. Coordinated and Integrated Approaches to Investing in Young Children
  • SCRUTINIZING ARGUMENTS FOR COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION
  • THE COSTS OF INTEGRATION
  • REALIZING THE BENEFITS OF COORDINATION
  • COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
  • COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION AT THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS
  • THE STATUS OF NATIONAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
  • FUTURE INITIATIVES
  • SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATIONS
  • THE ROLE OF PARENTS
  • COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE
  • DATA AND POLITICS IN POLICIES
• 3. Integrated and Coordinated Programs in Hong Kong and Chile
  • A COLLABORATIVE MULTIPLIER APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
  • SERVICES AFFECTING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
  • CHILD INJURIES IN HONG KONG
  • CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATED POLICY IN CHILE
  • GOVERNANCE SYSTEM
  • LESSONS LEARNED AND CHALLENGES OF SCALING UP
  • TOWARD GREATER COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION
• 4. Coordinating Investments in Children from a Policy Perspective
  • THE CHINA WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
  • INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
  • THE ACTION PLAN FOR HEALTHY NEWBORNS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
• 5. Using Existing Platforms to Integrate Services on the Ground
  • HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: INITIAL EXPERIENCES FROM BRAC
  • INTEGRATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRITION THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN PAKISTAN
  • THE MOUNT SINAI ADOLESCENT HEALTH CENTER
• 6. Using Existing Platforms to Reach and Invest in Vulnerable Populations
  • TARGETED VERSUS UNIVERSAL PROGRAMS
  • IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN NURSE–FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
  • A COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM IN SRI LANKA
• 7. Issues in Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainability
  • STRENGTHENING PLATFORMS FROM THE GROUND UP IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION
  • CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
  • A COMMUNITY-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN SOUTH AFRICA
• 8. Breakout Group Reports and Closing Remarks
  • FINANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
  • CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
  • EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SCALES
  • CLOSING REMARKS
• References
• APPENDIXES
  • Appendix A Acronyms
  • Appendix B Workshop Agenda
  • Appendix C Biographical Sketches of Workshop Speakers

Rapporteur: Steve Olson.

This activity was supported by grants from the Accordia Global Health Foundation; Autism Speaks (unnumbered award); the Bernard van Leer Foundation (222-2012-043); The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1084405); the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development; Grand Challenges Canada (unnumbered); HighScope Educational Research Foundation (unnumbered); Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal (unnumbered); the Inter-American Development Bank (unnumbered); the Jacobs Foundation (2013-1079); Lumos; the National Institutes of Health–Fogarty International Center, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Mental Health; Nestlé Nutrition Institute (unnumbered); Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE); the Open Society Institute–Budapest Foundation (OR2013-10010); ReadyNation (unnumbered); the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; the Society for Research in Child Development (unnumbered); UNICEF (unnumbered); the U.S. Agency for International Development; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (2013-9204); and the World Bank (unnumbered). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2015. Using existing platforms to integrate and coordinate investments for children: Summary of a joint workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.