RESEARCH
Whole Child International is dedicated to developing and implementing evidence-based best practices in childcare and child welfare. We prioritize collaboration and learning from other organizations to ensure that resources are used as effectively and widely as possible to improve children’s lives and learning outcomes.
Our publications reflect our commitment to global leadership in this field, showcasing our practices, demonstrating their effectiveness, contributing to the body of literature, and providing a strong foundation for training practitioners. Please explore the resources listed below:
For further information, please contact us at info@wholechild.org.
RESEARCH
Best Practices for Family-Based Foster Care in Latin America (2024)
This research presents a documentary analysis of foster care models across 13 Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. A total of 110 documents were reviewed, including regulatory frameworks, studies, guidelines, and academic and government articles.
Through this analysis, we identified best practices, strengths, and challenges while considering the unique context of each country. We examined regulations related to the rights of children and adolescents, with a particular focus on their right to live in a family environment. Additionally, we explored the approaches and modalities of foster care implemented in each nation. We also highlighted key challenges faced by foster care programs, such as limited human and financial resources, insufficient intersectoral collaboration, and difficulties in assessing program impact.
Buenas prácticas de acogimiento familiar en América Latina (2024)
Esta investigación presenta un análisis documental de los modelos de acogimiento familiar en 13 países latinoamericanos: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú y Uruguay. Se revisaron 110 documentos, incluyendo marcos regulatorios, estudios, directrices y artículos académicos y gubernamentales.
This study compares a novel assessment tool developed in and for low-income and low-resource settings with a standardized “gold standard” tool developed for use in high-resource settings. The study included a randomized sample of 34 childcare centers in a low-resource context that provided care for approximately 918. Results suggest that the WCI-QCUALS assessment tool performed better at differentiating among childcare settings that were consolidated into the lowest rating on the ECERS-R. Further, the WCI-QCUALS was found to be a feasible, appropriate stand-alone tool for assessing the quality of childcare centers in low-resource settings.
El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar las ofertas educativas y otros entrenamientos, dirigidos a formar profesionales en la atención y protección de la primera infancia, niñez y adolescencia en El Salvador. Esta se llevó a cabo entre los meses de febrero a julio del año 2024, y se orientó a las universidades de las tres zonas geográficas del país (oriente, centro y occidente), así como centros de formación de instituciones miembros del Sistema Nacional de Protección Integral de la Primera Infancia, Niñez y Adolescencia (SNPIPINA). De igual forma, se incluyó a estudiantes universitarios de carreras relacionadas a la temática de investigación.
Este estudio contempla una revisión a partir del año 2011 hasta el año 2021 en el cual se recopila la evolución de la situación de niñez y adolescencia en El Salvador, a partir de lo que establece el marco normativo más actual: la Ley Crecer Juntos para la Protección Integral de la Primera Infancia, Niñez y Adolescencia. Tiene como finalidad proveer insumos para la toma de decisiones informadas y basadas en evidencia.
¿Cómo es el proceso de protección de niñas, niños y adolescentes en El Salvador? Esta interrogante ha sido la base para elaborar este estudio cuyo fin, más allá de describir los procesos y cómo se involucran los diferentes actores.
A lo largo de este documento se citan comentarios y opiniones personales clave del SNPINA que participaron en entrevistas.
Se incluye un flujograma descargable.
Summary: Research Results from Whole Child International | 2006-2012
The purpose of this report is to describe changes in caregiving and children’s development in response to an intervention in five Nicaraguan child protection centers. The intervention, implemented by Whole Child International (WCI), a nonprofit organization devoted to improving institutions for infants and young children, included caregiver training and structural changes designed to improve caregiver-child interactions and the development of young children. Post-intervention data on caregivers and children were compared to pre-intervention data for each of the five target protection centers.
India has a robust framework of policies and legislation that highlight the importance of applying the "best interest" standard to childcare institutions (CCIs), including the Juvenile Justice Act (2015), the Juvenile Justice Model Rules (2016), and the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (2009), among others. This legislative infrastructure represents the Indian government's agile and diligent response to the 2014 recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
This study provides descriptive empirical information on the environments, organizational structure, caregivers, caregiver-child interactions, and children’s general behavioral development and problem behaviors from three institutions for young children in Nicaragua and San Salvador.
A comparison of assessment tools for childcare centers in high vs. low resource settings (2024)
Investigación de la oferta educativa y formación continua (2024)
Análisis de datos de la situación de niñez y adolescencia en El Salvador 2011-2021 (2024)
Análisis de brechas y recomendaciones del Sistema Nacional de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia
(2021)
Summary - Research Results (2013)
The Effects of a Social-Emotional Intervention on Caregivers and Children in Five Central American Institutions (2012)
Strengthening Childcare Institutions (CCIs) in India: Report of Variation in CCI Care Quality: Pilot Research in Four States (2020)
Characteristics of Enviroment, Caregivers and Children in Three Latin American Orphanage (2009)
