Early intervention, strengthened through the launch of the “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” guide and the LearnECD digital platform
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UNICEF, in partnership with the “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Mother and Child Institute, and the National Early Childhood Intervention Institute “Voinicel,” launched the “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” Guide and the LearnECD digital platform — two essential resources for strengthening early intervention services and supporting professionals who work with young children and their families.
The event brought together more than 100 participants, including representatives of public authorities, medical and educational institutions, international experts, partner organizations, university faculty, students, residents, and specialists from the fields of health, education, and child protection.
The launch of these two resources continues the work initiated with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024 by UNICEF and USMF. Through this agreement, the partners committed to helping students, residents, professors, and medical practitioners better prepare for working with young children and their families.
The “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” Guide – an essential tool for professionals working with young children
The “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” guide, developed by the European Association on Early Childhood Intervention (EurlyAid) and available in Romanian, has been reviewed and adapted to the national context by UNICEF in partnership with specialists from INITC “Voinicel.” The material provides clear guidance for professionals and promotes:
- a transdisciplinary model of collaboration between health, education, and social protection;
- the use of a shared professional language;
- the application of unified standards in working with young children and their families.
LearnECD – platformă digitală gratuită pentru formarea profesioniștilor
LearnECD, platforma dezvoltată de Biroul Regional UNICEF pentru Europa și Asia Centrală și adaptată de UNICEF Moldova împreună cu specialiști ai Institutului Mamei și Copilului și ai Societății de Pediatrie, oferă profesioniștilor 32 de module online gratuite, bazate pe dovezi.
Temele abordate acoperă întregul spectru al îngrijirii timpurii: de la vizite la domiciliu, îngrijire receptivă și intervenție timpurie, până la dezvoltarea timpurie a copilului și sprijinul acordat familiilor cu copii mici.
“Families need to know that support is available, and professionals must feel prepared and confident to collaborate across sectors, because early childhood intervention succeeds only when health, education, and social protection work together as one system around the child and the family,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova.
In this context, we have launched the professional master’s program Early Childhood Intervention, which provides integrated training for professionals from the medical, social, and psycho-pedagogical sectors. The program includes courses, practical modules, internships, and interprofessional collaboration. The first graduates of the program will complete their studies in 2026,” said Olga Cernețchi, First Vice-Rector of USMF and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Educational Management.
A shared commitment to a stronger early intervention system
Both the guide and the LearnECD platform are aligned with the National Plan for Expanding Early Intervention Services (2024–2027) and contribute to building a coordinated, family-centered system. These resources equip professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to intervene effectively and consistently, ensuring that every child in the Republic of Moldova has the chance to grow and develop in a healthy, nurturing environment.
The guide and the platform were translated, edited, and adapted to the local context with the support of national specialists and with the financial assistance of the Government of the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM).
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