Improving the lives of children and young people: case studies from Europe, volume 3: school

As part of the European review of social determinants of health and the health divide, experts were commissioned to write case studies addressing childhood and inequality. They identified promising developments with international resonance, described the issues they addressed and how they were led and put into operation, and set out the emerging evidence of their effectiveness.This diverse collection of case studies is presented in three volumes reflecting a “life-course” approach: Volume 3 addresses school, with examples from Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Volumes 1 and 2 address the early years and childhood. Some of the case studies review major national policy developments and frameworks, others deal with specific national initiatives or with local projects driven by community organizations, and a few focus on transnational initiatives. They are not necessarily a comprehensive overview of childhood and health in the WHO European Region, but provide examples of innovative practice that will inform and inspire policy-makers, practitioners, managers, educators and researchers, committed to improving the lives of children and young people at country and European levels.

Improving the lives of children and young people: case studies from Europe, volume 2: childhood

As part of the European review of social determinants of health and the health divide, experts were commissioned to write case studies addressing childhood and inequality. They identified promising developments with international resonance, described the issues they addressed and how they were led and put into operation, and set out the emerging evidence of their effectiveness.This diverse collection of case studies is presented in three volumes reflecting a “life-course” approach: Volume 2 addresses childhood, with examples from Armenia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Norway and Poland and two European projects. Volumes 1 and 3 address the early years and school. Some of the case studies review major national policy developments and frameworks, others deal with specific national initiatives or with local projects driven by community organizations, and a few focus on transnational initiatives. They are not necessarily a comprehensive overview of childhood and health in the WHO European Region, but provide examples of innovative practice that will inform and inspire policy-makers, practitioners, managers, educators and researchers, committed to improving the lives of children and young people at country and European levels.

Improving the lives of children and young people: case studies from Europe, volume 1: early years

As part of the European review of social determinants of health and the health divide, experts were commissioned to write case studies addressing childhood and inequality. They identified promising developments with international resonance, described the issues they addressed and how they were led and put into operation, and set out the emerging evidence of their effectiveness.This diverse collection of case studies is presented in three volumes reflecting a “life-course” approach: Volume 1 addresses the early years, with examples from Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Volumes 2 and 3 address childhood and school. Some of the case studies review major national policy developments and frameworks, others deal with specific national initiatives or with local projects driven by community organizations, and a few focus on transnational initiatives. They are not necessarily a comprehensive overview of childhood and health in the WHO European Region, but provide examples of innovative practice that will inform and inspire policy-makers, practitioners, managers, educators and researchers, committed to improving the lives of children and young people at country and European levels.

Early years, family and education task group: report: European review of social determinants ofhealth and the health divide in the WHOEuropean Region

The task group on early years, childhood and family was set up as part of the European review of social determinants of health and the health divide in the WHO European Region, a study commissioned to support the development of the new health policy framework for Europe, Health 2020. The task group was asked to identify interventions, strategies and approaches that policy-makers and practitioners in the Region can use in the childhood years to improve and equalize health outcomes throughout the life-course. The report’s analysis is organized in terms of early years and later childhood to reflect phases of children’s experience that are distinct in many ways and require different forms of service provision. The report uses evidence from international research, a review of reports from international organizations and case studies of practices in European countries. The report’s broad conclusions should be considered in conjunction with more detailed recommendations provided throughout the text.