This policy brief demonstrates how UNICEF's Better Start and Better Care frameworks complement one another to strengthen child wellbeing through integrated early childhood development and child protection systems in Ukraine. It explains that Better Start focuses on universal and targeted services for children from pregnancy to age six, while Better Care provides progressive support for children at risk of family separation or living in alternative care. The publication highlights key areas of synergy, including strengthening family resilience, promoting responsive caregiving, addressing trauma and toxic stress, improving referral pathways, enhancing intersectoral coordination, integrating data and monitoring systems, and aligning public financing for children. It also provides practical recommendations for governments and partners on joint workforce training, advocacy, coordinated planning, and service delivery. The brief concludes that integrating early childhood development and child protection interventions creates a stronger social safety net, improves developmental outcomes, prevents unnecessary family separation, and supports resilient families and communities.
