Building Resilience Through Healing and Play

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ISSA Member: Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation, Ukraine What happened? Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation (USSF), in collaboration with ISSA and partners, has taken critical action to reinforce early childhood systems amidst the crisis. This effort centred on providing Psychological First Aid (PFA) to children, caregivers, and educators experiencing the trauma of conflict. The initiative included cascade-training so that master trainers could pass on PFA and trauma-informed practices to teachers and caregivers across Ukraine and neighbouring countries. At the same time, USSF supported several kindergartens to create Centres for young children and families, where through structured yet nurturing play methodologies, children and families were able to process their anxieties, rediscover joy, and lay a foundation for resilience even in the midst of hardship. What was needed? How did they respond? The pressing need was twofold. First, educators and caregivers required practical tools to support children grappling with trauma, not just for their children' sake, but to safeguard their own mental health. Training in PFA and trauma-informed care was urgently needed to fill critical knowledge gaps in the early childhood workforce. Second, children and their families needed emotional healing and psychological relief amid disrupted routines, danger, and loss. The Centres for young children and families responded by integrating imaginative play, like focusing on imagined objects, storytelling, and music, into safe spaces. These small but powerful play and learning daily activities became lifelines, offering both momentary relief and deeper pathways to healing and resilience to both young children and parents. Key challenges: Solutions: What's in place? What's missing? Now, Ukraine’s early childhood system has a strengthened foundation: there are dedicated master trainers across the region delivering sustainable PFA training, and community hubs that model healing through play. The training itself includes built-in support for self-care, and an emerging professional learning community encourages peer support and shared growth. Yet gaps persist. While cascading models have broadened reach, not all professionals have access to training, coverage remains uneven. Embedding PFA and play-based healing into formal early childhood systems is still underway; without institutional integration in pre- and in-service curricula, these practices risk being temporary. Lastly, many educators continue operating under extreme stress with limited emotional support—sustained resources for self-care, mental health, and professional development are essential to prevent burnout and secure long-term impact. Being part of a regional network: Advantages of ISSA membership Recommendations National policymakers: Local/national actors Private donors Professionals/practitioners Explore further: Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation highlights significant impacts of psychological first aid training The Healing Power of Play: A Pathway to ResilienceISSA Member: Partners Hungary Foundation, Hungary What happened? In February 2022, when Russia invaded…ISSA Member: Trust for Social Achievement and Worldwide Foundation for Vulnerable Children, Bulgaria **What h…ISSA Member: Step by Step Centre for Education and Professional Development, Romania What happened? In…

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Supporting families for nurturing care: Training resource package for home visiting practices

This training package equips trainers of home visiting professionals with essential knowledge, skills, and tools to deliver consistent, high-quality pre-service and in-service training.

Developed by UNICEF ECARO and the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), it builds on almost ten years of collaboration and earlier home visiting modules (2017–2025). The goal is to strengthen home visiting as a key community health service supporting families from pregnancy to early childhood.

The package includes three guides: General Overview, Foundational Training, and Extended Training, each offering adaptable materials such as session plans, slides, and handouts based on nurturing and family-centered care.

It combines two main areas: (1) programmatic knowledge on child development, health, nutrition, and parental wellbeing, and (2) practical skills such as communication, relationship building, observation, problem-solving, and cultural responsiveness.

Grounded in adult learning principles, the training encourages reflection, peer learning, and practical application, fostering the professional growth of trainers and home visitors while improving the quality of home visiting services.

Trainer Guide: General Overview

Trainer Guide: Foundational Training

Day 1 PPT | PDF

Day 2 PPT | PDF

Day 3 PPT | PDF

Day 4 PPT | PDF

Day 5 PPT | PDF

Trainer Guide: Extended Training

Day 1 PPT | PDF

Day 2 PPT | PDF

Day 3 PPT | PDF

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

ISSA, UNICEF ECARO

Language:

English

Contact:

Ayca Alayli, aalayli@issa.nl

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State of Southern European Fathers 2024: Building Evidence for Engaging Men in Nurturing Care in Italy, Portugal, and Spain

Engaging Men and Promoting Positive Gender Norms in Early Childhood

The State of Southern European Fathers 2024 report, developed under the EMiNC initiative, explores fathers’ involvement in caregiving across Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While many men report active participation in daily care, a significant perception gap remains: 74% of fathers believe caregiving is equally shared, but only 51% of mothers agree. The findings show that mothers still carry the greater caregiving and household burden, often at the expense of their well-being and professional opportunities. At the same time, the report highlights the vital role fathers play in children’s development—greater involvement is linked to stronger emotional bonds, improved learning outcomes, and better long-term well-being for children.

Yet barriers persist: rigid workplace cultures, limited access to paid leave, and lack of affordable, quality childcare constrain men’s ability to participate equally. The report calls for robust policy reforms—such as fully paid, non-transferable leave for fathers—and investments in early childhood services that actively engage men. Public campaigns and local peer support networks are also essential to shift norms and expectations. Promoting men’s caregiving is not only a matter of gender equality, it is a key strategy to ensure all children thrive from the very start.

The report, developed under the EMiNC initiative, explores fathers’ involvement in caregiving across Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While many men report active participation in daily care, a significant perception gap remains: 74% of fathers believe caregiving is equally shared, but only 51% of mothers agree. The findings show that mothers still carry the greater caregiving and household burden, often at the expense of their well-being and professional opportunities. At the same time, the report highlights the vital role fathers play in children’s development—greater involvement is linked to stronger emotional bonds, improved learning outcomes, and better long-term well-being for children.Yet barriers persist: rigid workplace cultures, limited access to paid leave, and lack of affordable, quality childcare constrain men’s ability to participate equally. The report calls for robust policy reforms—such as fully paid, non-transferable leave for fathers—and investments in early childhood services that actively engage men. Public campaigns and local peer support networks are also essential to shift norms and expectations. Promoting men’s caregiving is not only a matter of gender equality, it is a key strategy to ensure all children thrive from the very start.

button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cfd8a00c77551ab945be_SoF%20Report%20Updated_Sept2025.pdf"][label="Download in English"]

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

ISSA

Language:

English

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Module 3: Nutrition for Infants and Young Children

family

child health

home visiting

parenting support

The Module 3 ‘Nutrition for Infants and Young Children’ is intended to support home visitors and other health professionals in providing advice and support to parents and families on infant and young child nutrition. It includes three modules:

Module 3a: ‘Breastfeeding’

Module 3b: ‘Introducing Complementary Foods’

Module 3c: ‘Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years’

You can access the whole package here.

Download 3a. Breastfeeding

Download 3b. Introducing Complementary Foods

Download 3c. Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years

button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf735eb0b715b71d6271_3a.Nutrition-BreastfeedingNEWBORN-ENG-WEB.pdf"][label="Download 3a. Breastfeeding"] button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf743139d7275e743a0a_3b.Nutrition-InfantYoungChild-ENG-WEB.pdf"][label="Download 3b. Introducing Complementary Foods"] button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf766ca73e3f96db4776_3c.Nutrition-YoungChild2-6-ENG.pdf"][label="Download 3c. Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years"]

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

UNICEF ECARO & ISSA

Language:

English

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