Professional paper
HOW TO PLAN COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA – REVIEW OF THE MODEL OF DEVELOPING PUBLIC POLICY INVESTMENT IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
DORJA VOČANEC
orcid.org/0000-0001-7570-5863
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
SELMA ŠOGORIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-2314-2146
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
MAJA VAJAGIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-0024-3753
; Croatian Institute of Health Insurance, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Inequity in health is a consequence of unequal life opportunities. Previous researches had shown that reduction of social inequalities is the most successful and cost-effective way in improving the population health, especially through investment in early years. The existing indicators suggest that there are factors in the Republic of Croatia that generate health inequalities from the earliest age and consequently lead to poor health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to present the
methodology used in developing a policy for investment in early childhood development in the Republic of Croatia. The policy is the basis for further design and implementation of the national investment strategy for early childhood development. In the formulation of the policy, the bottom-up approach was used. Therefore, all stakeholders were given an opportunity to present their view of the problem and propose options for solving it. Within the 21st Health Fair in Vinkovci
in April 2017, the topic Investing in Early Childhood Development through Intersectoral Cooperation was addressed. By analyzing the text of the presentations and discussion, information was collected for description of the current state. The text was supplemented through additional two rounds of consultations with interested stakeholders. The state-of-the-art document was presented and discussed at the partnership conference entitled Investing in Early Childhood Development through Intersectoral Cooperation. The conclusions led to creation of the fi nal document, a platform for development and implementation of the national investment strategy for early childhood development. Challenges were recognized in care provision and development of early childhood services. The lack of vertical and horizontal co-operation between services and care providers was identifi ed as the main problem. In addition, there are differences in the availability, affordability, quality and fairness of the distribution of care and services. However, some strengths were recognized, primarily in the form of organizational resources with advocacy power, good practices implemented in all sectors at the local level, existing
technologies directed at prevention, and early detection and treatment of developmental disparities. The results obtained enabled defi nition of goals and outlined clear directions for action. The next step is designing an umbrella document and operational documents for implementing this policy in practice.
Keywords
early childhood development; early intervention; public policy
Hrčak ID:
199529
URI
Publication date:
20.4.2018.
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