Policies for healthy child development
The following are a list of essential policies any government needs to pursue if it is to create an environment in which parents are supported and children nurtured.
Food
Programmes to ensure children get the nutritional intake they need to support healthy growth.
Cash
Temporary and long-term social security to make certain that children grow up in financially secure environments. These payments can raise children out of poverty.
Head-start
Services to help parents and children navigate the sometimes stressful and tiring period of early-life development. This can include advice, medical support, and referrals.
Family leave
This is essential to allow parents quality time with their newborn child.
Health insurance
In countries without free-to-access healthcare, the widespread and subsidized provision of health insurance is essential.
Child-care
Subsidies make childcare free or affordable.
Group support
It is essential that parents, especially mothers, are provided with mutual support during the initial months after pregnancy.
Disability payments
So that parents can access the medication, care, and support they need if their child has been born with a disability.
Abuse prevention
Supports the prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse and neglect.