Foundational layer: family economic security and early development environments.

 

The Foundational layer of a family-centred policy model are policies that most directly protect family living standards and early childhood conditions, with strong evidence of immediate and long-term impacts on children. Social protection systems are central to this foundation. Universal child benefits reduce monetary and multidimensional child poverty at the population level most effectively and improve health, education, food security, and school enrolment, while lowering child labour. Age-related increments to the benefits support cognitive development in early childhood and increase school participation among older children. Policies that address inequality in access to services also reduce poverty among marginalised groups and improve inclusion, including for children with disabilities. Family-centred nutrition interventions are critical in early development. Early nutritional interventions reduce stunting and anaemia in children under two, while context-specific approaches improve outcomes by aligning with local diets. Integrated nutrition and cash transfers enhance dietary diversity and reduce malnutrition, and holistic approaches – cash plus models – further strengthen outcomes by addressing food security, hygiene, and caregiver knowledge. Health systems, when accessible and responsive to families, generate substantial benefits. Free health interventions increase vaccination rates and maternal service uptake, while community health workers improve utilisation among underserved populations. Health insurance programs expand access, particularly for low-income families. Combining health services with cash benefits increases utilisation, although long-term behavioural change is less certain. Sexual and reproductive health programs show mixed outcomes, often shaped by cultural and social constraints.

Together, these policies improve child survival, nutrition, and early development while stabilizing family living conditions, thereby reducing the risk of intergenerational disadvantage.