Investing in Children Services Improving Outcomes Alfonso Lara Montero, Policy Director Children & the Economic Crisis -European Perspectives, University of Southampton, 10 November 2014 esn-eu.org

Investing in Children Services Working towards an EC Recommendation Independent European network for local public social services 2007: Seminar analysing multidimensional nature of child poverty and programmes 2010: Children and Families report Breaking the cycle of deprivation 2011: Seminar Investing in Children: Early Years & Child Protection --up-to-date input from public services 2012: Position papers on the EC Recommendation and assessment of SPC advisory report esn-eu.org

Investing in Children Breaking the cycle of disadvantage esn-eu.org A C C E S S QUALITY? IMPLEMENTATION?

Investing in Children Services The project Objective Enhance knowledge of children services & policies across 14 European countries to contribute to implementing the EU Recommendation Investing in Children How Questionnaire & Analysis Peer Reviews Country profiles Cross-country analysis esn-eu.org

Investing in Children Services Preliminary findings Common to most countries analysed so far… REFORMREFORM esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings Bulgaria Vision for DI of children services; specific target: Closing the 137 institutions that existed in Dec 2009 by 2025 How? Working with families Developing alternative services Promoting foster care New financing directed to services esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings Bulgaria Annual Monitoring Reports Appeal for holistic approach: legislation to be “improved in other key areas related to child well-being such as health, education, justice, social welfare and family policy” Rapid multiplication of family and childcare services, but are they fit for purpose? Consolidation of existing services accompanied by more work in the field of prevention esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings Ireland Economic downturn & budgetary constraints Key changes: Department for Children established Referendum to strengthen children’s rights National Agency for Children and Families established National infrastructure of local Children’s Services Committees (Local Authority areas) in development Reinforcement of services provision but clear monitoring and evaluation still to be achieved Establishment of a monitoring and evaluation infrastructure provided through the new Child and Family Agency esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings Spain Child poverty measured as income poverty within families esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings Spain I Plan for Childhood & Adolescence developed in ; Improvement in child benefits and services, but limited and disparate across regions Regions responsible for labour and social services policies Most analyses emphasise crisis’ impact on labour market for households with children 2013: Territorial Council of Social Services approved “Social services reference catalogue” with family support tools tailored by regions Urgent actions: Social inclusion of at-risk children combining academic support, support with meals and books, compensation programmes Better coordination between GPs, schools & social services to identify children at risk esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings A regional case: Catalonia Social investment directed to guaranteeing essential services esn-eu.org

Preliminary findings A regional case: Catalonia Policies Monitoring Committees Children’s Boards (Regional and local) Council for Children and Young People Services Increase free school meals Increase emergency social assistance Fuel poverty Rent support Young people leaving care Professionalisation of fostering esn-eu.org

Investing in Children Services Preliminary conclusions Economic crisis impact New ways of delivering services Reinforcing coordination policies Incipient systematic and evidence-based approaches Emerging greater focus on outcomes esn-eu.org