Early Intervention Transforms Children with Developmental Delays
UNICEF promotes the Care for Child Development approach as part of the Early Childhood Development Monitoring Standard. The results are already evident in children and their families.
Edward, just two and a half years old, has already faced more health challenges than many encounter in a lifetime. Yet, thanks to the unwavering support of his family, and the care provided by trained health professionals applying the Care for Child Development (CCD) approach, Edward is now making meaningful progress and receiving the comprehensive treatment he needs to thrive.
From the moment they are born, children begin developing language, motor, cognitive, and socioemotional skills at a pace unmatched by any other stage in life. To support this vital period, the Bolivian government approved the Early Childhood Development Monitoring Standard in 2017, a policy aimed at identifying potential developmental delays in children from birth through age six and ensuring timely, effective interventions. “When we monitor development, we’re not just protecting children’s health—we’re safeguarding their future,” explains Carla Vásquez, family health specialist and professor at Franz Tamayo University. “Support at the right moment allows children to continue to grow, healthy and happy, and to reach their full potential.”
The integration of the CCD approach into Bolivia’s national health standards in 2023 marked a turning point in the country’s early childhood healthcare services. This achievement was made possible thanks to the generous support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose contribution has strengthened UNICEF’s technical assistance and helped bring this approach to life in healthcare centres across the country.
The CCD methodology equips both healthcare professionals and caregivers (mothers, fathers, siblings, and extended family) with the tools and knowledge to actively support children’s development through responsive care, play, and meaningful interaction.
Today, this model is being implemented in healthcare centres such as the San Carlos Healthcare Centre in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where Edward is receiving care. Children showing signs of developmental delays are referred to specialists in areas such as speech therapy, physical therapy, and paediatric neurology, and other areas. Medical staff work in an interdisciplinary manner, while also coaching families on how to engage and bond with their children at home, promoting improved development through everyday activities.
Edward’s mother recalls that her son was developing normally during his first six months—lifting his head, making eye contact, beginning to sit up. Then, his development not only stalled but regressed. He experienced vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and even heart failure, requiring multiple stays in intensive care, including two weeks on a ventilator. After undergoing a series of medical tests, he was diagnosed at eight months with level 3 epilepsy and mild cerebral atrophy.
Edward's mother uses play as one of the main activities to stimulate his learning.
Today, thanks to the CCD-based support provided at the San Carlos Healthcare Centre, Edward’s parents and sister have learned how to engage with him through play and communication techniques that actively support his development. With ongoing physical therapy, both at the centre and at private clinics, Edward is working to improve his lower-body mobility. But perhaps the most important transformation has been his emotional and social engagement.
“The CCD approach had a huge impact on him,” says Claudia, Edward’s mother. “Before, he wouldn’t respond when we touched his hand. He avoided eye contact, didn’t like to be held, and didn’t recognize us. Now he laughs, looks at us, sits up, plays, and interacts with his dad and sister. When I come home and talk to him from a distance, he reaches out his little hand to call me.”
Scientific studies confirm that warm, responsive interactions, especially from parents and caregivers, fuel brain development and build emotional security. “Training caregivers helps them navigate the healthcare system, access appropriate services, and create nurturing environments at home,” explains Dr. Vásquez.
Edward’s father, Miguel, even built homemade tools to help his son enjoy playtime and improve motor skills. “He needs to do his exercises nearly every day, not just at therapy but also here at home,” he says. “The most amazing thing is that now he’s trying to stand up and walk,” Claudia adds.
“Supporting caregivers has had a greater impact than we imagined,” says Dr. Vásquez. “It not only improves developmental outcomes in children, but also strengthens family bonds and encourages fathers to take a more active role in parenting.” Research shows that children supported with the CCD approach often require fewer medications during hospitalizations and recover more quickly. “This kind of support is transformative,” adds Edwin Cruz, early childhood consultant with UNICEF Bolivia.
Thanks to the continued collaboration between the Bolivian Ministry of Health and UNICEF—and made possible by the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Edward’s story is becoming one of many. Across the country, more children are being reached with timely care, loving guidance, and the chance to overcome developmental challenges and thrive.
