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Research for EPIC, the European Platform for Investing in Children

Building a better understanding of the impact of early childhood education and care
This research note examines the medium- and long-term impact of early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision on education and labour market outcomes for children and parents, as well as the indicators employed for these measurements.
27 Jan 2022
Juggling work and childcare during COVID-19
This report examines policies introduced in 2020 by ten EU member states that aimed to support working parents during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and takes stock of their common features and impact.
11 Jan 2022
Provision of school meals across the EU
One goal of the European Commission is to provide all children in the EU with adequate nutrition. Researchers examined the rationales underpinning school meal programmes across the EU, the barriers and facilitators of school meal programmes, and what the evidence says about the outcomes of school meal programmes.
01 Oct 2021
Homeless children and young people: A review of interventions supporting access to healthcare services
Researchers examined the challenges that homeless children and family face in accessing healthcare, interventions aimed at supporting their access to healthcare, and facilitators of these interventions in this report aimed at policy makers.
13 Sep 2021
Benefits of extracurricular activities for children
Extracurricular activities are generally viewed as a way to enable children to become active citizens in their community and develop soft skills. This research note summarises the existing evidence on their benefits, their ability to support social inclusion, and the ways providers can support disadvantaged children to access them.
09 Jun 2021
The childcare gap in EU member states
In many EU member states, there is a period in which families with young children are unable to benefit from well-compensated childcare leave or a guaranteed place in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Researchers examined policies in place to address this childcare gap.
08 Mar 2021
Sexuality education across the European Union
This policy memo maps the existing evidence and research on the nature of sexuality education that young people across the European Union receive.
22 Feb 2021
Children and mental health: Preventive approaches to anxiety and depression
A summary of findings from twelve systematic reviews and meta-analyses on interventions aimed at preventing the development of anxiety and depression in children. The research note discusses what works well and what areas require further research before definite conclusions about their effectiveness can be drawn.
10 Feb 2021
Developments in Child and Family Policy in the EU in 2019
This third annual trend report outlines and summarises new policy developments in the area of child and family policy in the 27 EU member states and the UK during 2019. The report provides information on key trends that took place in relation to the provision of early childhood education and care, family leave and actions to improve work-life balance, social and income support for families, and children's right to participation.
01 Dec 2020
Anti-bullying practices from the repository of the European Platform for Investing in Children
The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) collects and disseminates innovative and evidence-based practices that have a positive impact on children and families in EU member states. This report showcases a selection of practices collected by EPIC that focus on anti-bullying interventions.
01 Dec 2020
Strengthening the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion
Ensuring effective access to quality early childhood education and care for all remains a challenge in Europe, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This policy memo helps decision makers better understand this challenge and suggests some possible solutions.
16 Jun 2020
Understanding the housing conditions experienced by children in the EU
The provision of quality and affordable housing is an important mechanism for tackling child poverty, promoting the social inclusion of children and minimising the risk of homelessness among children in the EU. Actions taken by EU countries and at the European level can improve the situation.
10 Apr 2020
Leave policies and practice for non-traditional families
This policy memo provides an introduction to the access that parents in adoptive families, reconstituted families (families with step-parents and step-children), and families with same-sex parents have to different types of family leave in each of the EU member states.
16 Aug 2019
Embedding a children’s rights perspective in policy and decision-making
This policy memo provides an overview of the extent to which children’s rights are promoted and taken into account in national and EU policies and practice. The memo also discusses ways in which policies and wider initiatives facilitate children’s participation in decisions about their future.
08 Aug 2019
Mechanisms supporting single parents across the EU
Single-parent families are among the most financially vulnerable groups in society, with 47% of single-parent households at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU in 2017. This memo presents trends and risks for single parents across the EU, and provides an overview of existing support mechanisms.
05 Aug 2019
Positive parenting interventions
Parenting interventions share a broad aim of improving children’s health, wellbeing and behaviour, through the training and education of parents. In this policy memo, researchers explore the effectiveness of parenting interventions across different settings, why they are important, and how they can accessed.
02 May 2019
Access to quality education for children with special educational needs
Researchers conducted an overview of the policy and practice of EU countries in ensuring access to quality education for children with special educational needs. They set out the policy framework and main approaches taken by member states, identify key challenges for policy-makers and practitioners, and highlight examples of practices from across the EU.
23 Jan 2019
Family-Friendly Workplaces: Overview of Policies and Initiatives in Europe
EU citizens face significant challenges in balancing their professional and family lives. Family-friendly workplaces allow employees flexibility both in their working hours and location of work. This policy memo provides an overview of policies and initiatives in EU member states supporting family-friendly workplaces
09 Oct 2018
Changes in Child and Family Policies in the EU28 in 2017
This report outlines changes and new developments during the past year in the area of child and family policies across the EU member states. It is aligned with the 2013 Recommendation ’Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage’ and its key indicators to measure progress.
03 Aug 2018
Paternity and Parental Leave Policies Across the European Union
Researchers provide an overview of the current paternity and parental leave provisions across EU states, and examine these provisions against the changes proposed within the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the proposal for a Directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers.
25 Jul 2018

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Project team

Natalie Picken

Senior Analyst

Natalie Picken (she/her) is a senior analyst at the RAND Corporation. Working primarily for RAND Europe in the area of home affairs and social policy, her research interests focus on social inclusion, across employment, criminal justice systems, child and family policy, and education.…
Elena Rosa Brown

Research Leader

Elena Brown is a research leader at RAND Europe in the field of early years and education. She oversees numerous research projects spanning early childhood education, school-aged children, and parenting interventions. Brown is a proficient methodologist with extensive experience in designing…
Stijn Hoorens

Office Director, RAND Europe Brussels, Senior Research Leader

Stijn Hoorens (he/him) is the director of RAND's Brussels Office and a senior research leader at RAND Europe. He has extensive experience in designing and leading policy studies at RAND for a range of international clients. His research interests are broad, but most of his work has revolved…