Early childhood intervention and inclusion in the Swedish welfare system

Abstract

In this article, early childhood intervention (ECI) and inclusion in the universal Swedish welfare system is in focus. The framework emphasizes a child and family centered approach that focuses on supporting all children’s development and learning in a preschool for all children, child health services welcoming families and children, child habilitation centers for children with disabilities and their families in the ecosystem for ECI. An important principle is proportionate universalism, that is, that every child and family should have equal opportunities regardless of income level, and that they are provided with support in relation to needs. In this article, a special focus is on the universal preschool for all children, which is an important part of ECI. Even though Sweden is regarded as one of the best countries to raise children in the world, a main concern is whether the Swedish welfare system and ECI retain the capacity and capability to provide the support that is required to meet the needs of all children and to live up to consistent and broad criteria for inclusion from a societal to an individual perspective. The conclusion is that Sweden has a robust system for ECI in many ways, but there is a need for integration and coordination of the services in the ecosystem, and a strong growth of research to provide evidence-based knowledge about inclusive practices across the organizations involved.