|
About the International Initiative
The International Initiative is an international network of policy makers,
managers, practitioners and researchers involved in promoting comprehensive
policies to create effective services contributing to improved outcomes for
children, youth and families.
The International Initiative operates as a networking organisation of several
nations interested in working together to build strong communities to support
families. In some countries, national initiatives were created to engage policy
makers and practitioners at different levels in sharing ideas and realising
efforts to provide more comprehensive services. Their ideas, questions and
suggestions are fed back to the International Initiative Board. Contacts
between national initiatives lead to new projects and replication of effective
neighbourhood based approaches from one country to another.
The International Initiative was set up in 1992. In 1997, the Initiative
adopted an overall goal to help nations develop "strong communities to support
families." This broadened emphasis represented a commitment to developing and
disseminating knowledge about "what works" to help strengthen communities, so
that they in turn can support families. It also acknowledges the Initiative’s
interest in developing proactive strategies that might make a greater impact on
national and local policies and practices that achieve good outcomes for
families and communities. The Initiative identifies areas of work that may have
an impact on national policies and services that support "strong" families and
communities. It then devotes several years of work developing, sharing, and
exchanging successful strategies around the world. Specifically, the Initiative
facilitates in-depth analyses of these strategies, develops tools to help
people implement them, and creates opportunities to help translate them into
action.
|
