Family and parental support is already an important part of national social policies and social investment packages in high income countries, with an increasing uptake in lower and middle income countries. Research in this area will
a) contribute to the global evidence that can guide the development of family oriented policies and programmes in different contexts and
b) showcase the best evidenced practice models. This project examines multi-dimensional outcomes for children and adolescents: early childhood development, adolescent well-being, prevention of violence and family separation, reduction of inequality.
In its first phase this research reviews existing policies, models and understandings of family and parenting support in order to develop a conceptual and analytical framework rooted in the experience of countries from the Global North and the South. In the second phase, existing programmes will be systematically reviewed to develop theories and mechanisms of change applicable to low income settings. In the final stage, the study will test theories of change in selected low-income settings to determine social and structural influences and the relationship between the policy, intervention, context, mechanism and outcome.
This research will span the 3-year period 2014-2017 and will be carried out in collaboration with leading academic institutions in this field, UNICEF New York, UNICEF regional and country offices and national institutions. The results of the concepts and policy review carried out in collaboration with the University of Oxford, Department of Social Policy and Interventions, will be available by the end of 2014.
