CDRF and Hangzhou Municipal Commission of Health Launches the Project “Promoting Urban Childcare Services for Common Prosperity (Hangzhou Pilot)”
On 15 January 2024, China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) and Hangzhou
Municipal Health Commission held a launching ceremony for the "Promoting Urban
Childcare Services for Common Prosperity (Hangzhou Pilot)" project (hereinafter
referred to as the "Hangzhou Pilot") in Hangzhou.
Chen Weizhen, director of Primary Health and Maternal and Child Health
Division of Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission, hosted the ceremony. Qiao
Zhengyang, deputy secretary general of CDRF, and Cui Weiwu, member of the Party
Committee and deputy director of Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission, attended
the ceremony and delivered speeches. Cai Jianhua, senior advisor of Child
Development Research Institute of CDRF, presented the progress of project
preparation. Staff from Hangzhou Women's and Children's Health Service Center,
Hangzhou Primary Health Association, as well as relevant officials from
districts (counties), streets (townships) and communities in Hangzhou attended
the ceremony.
The Hangzhou pilot will work closely with the local government to provide
community based early childhood development public services to empower families.
By distributing e-vouchers, it will provide age-specific activities such as
organized games and group reading to target children and families. Services such
as "one-on-one" family parenting coaching will also be provided on a need
basis.
From January 16 to 17, CDRF project team went to Chun'an County, Xihu
District and Qiantang District to visit the communities and learn about the
current operation status of the community child care centers, laying the
foundation for project implementation.
Project Background
The China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) is dedicated to tackling key
issues in the field of child development in China and has provided reference for
national and local policy making by conducting social programs, carrying out
longitudinal research and exploring practical solutions.
In 2015, the foundation launched the "China REACH" project in Huachi County,
Gansu Province. Through home visits, it provides weekly parenting instruction
services to infants aged 6-36 months in rural areas, and has achieved good
policy and social impact. In order to explore more service models suitable for
different regions and promote early child development more comprehensively, CDRF
will use Hangzhou as a pilot area to provide experience for further promoting
inclusive child care services across the country and to seek appropriate service
models through the implementation of scientific intervention plans combined with
observation, evaluation and research. Starting preparations at the end of 2022,
the project received support from the Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission and
conducted baseline surveys in relevant districts (counties) from May 8 to May
12, 2023.