Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2020-051/ The First 1000 Days in the Nordic Countries is a Nordic collaborative project, launched as part of the 2019 Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, with the aim to support healthy emotional development and good mental health during the first 1000 days of life (from conception to the age of two). The first phase involved a situation analysis in which extensive data was gathered from across the Nordic countries about practices to support wellbeing and identify early risk factors in prenatal care, infant and child healthcare and early childhood education and care. The results are presented in this report with detailed country profiles and a comparison across countries. Significant strengths and challenges are identified when it comes to supporting young children's wellbeing within the Nordic region and examples of good practice from each participating country are offered.

This book brings together key authors from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) to discuss theoretical and empirical research on families and children. Sharing the Nordic perspective from each of the five countries, the book highlights key ideas within and across the countries. The chapters provide an understanding of the history of the Nordic perspectives of family and children, present current innovative research on solutions to complex issues, and explore contemporary issues. Nordic countries continually attain high scores in lifestyle measures, quality of life and children’s outcomes. Much of this has to do with the specific culture and policy of the Nordic countries. Written by academics within the region who are well regarded for contributing to academic and public debate, this book will appeal to an international audience interested in the Nordic perspective and social policy around family and children.

Parenting is a lifelong task and parents are always remaining as a parent. Parenting in the present situation faces many challenges which need to be reviewed and understood with profuse equanimity and alacrity. This book tries to consider the process of parenting in different conditions such as during COVID-19 lockdown, in the refugee camps, and in different cultural structures and economic conditions. Situations that families face due to changing conditions such as global changes which cause lifestyles, immigration patterns, social conflicts, and raising children with developmental disabilities have been discussed. Topics such as professional concern with child care and education, gender roles and caregiving, and father’s involvement in parenting, have been covered in different chapters of the book.

All OECD countries have vulnerable populations in need of multiple social service supports. This book looks at how services are integrated, vulnerable groups are defined and populations compare, and at the benefits of integrating services. It identifies good practice and promising common approaches.