Early childhood is considered to be the most critical time in a person’s life as it is the foundation for growth throughout the lifespan. AIDS orphans and children who have experienced trauma are at risk for depression and other mental health problems later in life. Early intervention can promote and the enhance the lives of disadvantaged children by addressing physical, emotional, and educational needs.
CARE designed the ‘5x5 Model’ to address five targeted areas in early childhood development. These include: 1. Food/Nutrition; 2. Child Development (Physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive); 3. Economic Strengthening; 4. Health; 5. Child Rights and Protection. Within these areas, there are five levels of protection: The individual child, the family/caregivers, the child care setting, the community, and national policy.
The article gives some examples of interventions and outlines each area of the model and the five levels of protection. The model works with the guidelines set forth by Education For All (EFA) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The article does not review any research on effectiveness, but cites that preliminary findings show the model to be adaptive and that it promotes cost-effective and sustainable interventions.
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