This section features two collections of practices being used throughout the European Union: some have been formally evaluated and have demonstrated their effectiveness through rigorous research (Evidence-Based Practice section), and other practices that have not been evaluated and which are being shared in the spirit of collaboration (User Registry). These two registries are designed to complement each other and to provide a comprehensive picture of the most effective practices being used throughout the European Union.
Which child focused practices have been shown to be effective in the European Union? This section features practices that have demonstrated their effectiveness through rigorous research. These practices have been reviewed by a team of experts and summarized in a way that is easy to understand.
Which child focused practices are being developed or implemented throughout the European Union? This section allows visitors to register practices that they are developing or implementing in order to share knowledge with other users. These practices have not been reviewed for evidence of effectiveness, but instead are posted here to promote information sharing and to support learning across the EU community of practice providers and policymakers.
In this section you can find Evidence-Based Practices and practices from the User Registry categorised by three pillars and policy categories within them: ‘Access to adequate resources’’; ‘Access to affordable quality services; and ‘Children’s right to participate’.
These three pillars and the policy categories within them are derived from the European Commission’s Recommendation “Investing in children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage ”.
In late February 2013 the European Commission (EC) adopted the Recommendation as part of the Social Investment Package which proposes a long-term social strategy to help overcome the current crisis and to strengthen the capacity of individuals. The Recommendation provides guidance for European Union (EU) Member States on how to tackle child poverty and social exclusion through measures such as family support and benefits, quality childcare and early-childhood education.
The Recommendation uses the pillar structure to organise the policy areas addressing child poverty and social exclusion and promoting children's well-being.Practices on EPIC are assigned to these pillars and policy categories according to those which they align most soundly with.
The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) is an evidence-based online platform providing information about policies and practices that can help children and their families to face up to the challenges that exist in the current economic climate in Europe. EPIC gathers, reviews and summarises this evidence on effective practices across the 28 member states. ‘Evidence-Based Practices’ are those practices that have demonstrated their effectiveness through rigorous evaluation and research. As a central component of EPIC, the Evidence-Based Practices are made available in an online repository on this website in the Practices that Work section. The spectrum of issues and themes covered by the practices is relevant to a variety of decision-makers and practitioners with topics, ranging from parenting and childcare to child development and child-wellbeing. EPIC facilitates the sharing of lessons learned notably through the Open Method of Coordination which facilitates the exchange of best practice among EU Member States. The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) continues to review and summarise information on Evidence-Based Practices, in order to inform decision-makers and practitioners about the steps they can take to address issues relating to child poverty and inequality in Europe.