The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) system by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is a comprehensive program designed to support the holistic development of children from birth to five years old.
It includes services such as health care, nutrition, early education, and social services to ensure children receive the best possible care and support.
The target beneficiaries of the system are children aged 0 to 4 years, parents and caregivers, service providers, Local Government Units (LGUs), and underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Key Components of ECCD:
- Health Care: The ECCD includes health care services such as immunizations, health checkups, and developmental screenings so that children receive proper medical care.
- Nutrition: The system emphasizes proper nutrition for children, including supplementary feeding programs to support their growth and development.
- Early Education: It includes early education programs such as preschool and kindergarten to provide children with a solid foundation for future learning.
- Social Services: The system also provides social services such as parent education and involvement programs to support the development of children and their families.
ECCD Programs:
- Home-Based Programs: These programs involve capacitating parents or caregivers to provide learning experiences for their children in their own homes.
- Center-Based Programs: These programs involve providing services in centers, schools, or workplaces, such as day care services or preschools.
- Mobile Home-Based Programs: These programs involve conducting sessions in homes or improvised facilities in the community.
ECCD Information System (ECCD-IS):
- Centralized Database: The ECCD-IS is a centralized database that contains information on all children receiving services from the DSWD.
- Tracking Progress: The system enables staff to track the progress of each child and ascertain that they are receiving the best possible care.
- Identifying Areas for Improvement: The system helps identify areas where improvements can be made to enhance the overall quality of system services.
Key Laws and Policies
Republic Act 8980 (ECCD Act)
This act provides a comprehensive national policy for the implementation of ECCD.
It institutionalizes the ECCD system, addressing threats to children’s health, nutrition, education, and psychosocial stimulation.
Republic Act 10410 (Early Years Act of 2013)
This act recognizes the age from zero to eight years as a foundational stage of educational development.
It strengthens the ECCD system so that the National ECCD Program is implemented in accordance with quality standards for accreditation.
Key Partnerships
Local Government Units (LGUs)
The DSWD collaborates with LGUs to establish National Child Development Centers (NCDCs).
They provide funds for the construction of these centers and for teaching-learning resources.
Department of Education (DepED)
A close working relationship with DepED establishes continuing professional development program support.
This partnership also provides supplementary learning materials, reference materials, supplemental nutrition, and healthcare services.
Department of Health (DOH)
Collaboration with DOH maintains that relevant programs include essential health services, promoting the overall well-being of children.
ECCD Information System (ECCD-IS)
- Centralized Database: The ECCD-IS is a centralized database that contains information on all children receiving services from the DSWD.
- Tracking Progress: The system enables staff to track the progress of each child and see to it that they are receiving the best possible care.
- Identifying Areas for Improvement: The system helps identify areas where improvements can be made to enhance the overall quality of these services.
Beneficiaries of the ECCD
- Children aged 0 to 4 years old: The ECCD is designed to provide a comprehensive range of health, nutrition, early education, and social services to support the holistic development of children from birth to 4 years old.Â
- Parents and Caregivers: The system emphasizes the role of parents and caregivers, aiming to support and empower them as primary caregivers through parent education and involvement programs.Â
- ECCD Service Providers: These include various professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteer caregivers who are directly responsible for the care and education of young children, such as day care workers, child development teachers, and community health workers.Â
- Local Government Units (LGUs): LGUs are primarily responsible for implementing the National ECCD Program by providing basic public ECCD services and supporting the establishment of community-based ECCD programs.Â
- Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities: The system aims to promote equal opportunities and prioritize the allocation of resources to rural and poor communities, where children are most disadvantaged in accessing quality ECCD services.Â
Step-by-Step Guide on Using the ECCD Checklist
The Early Childhood Care and Development checklist is an essential tool for assessing the development of children below five years of age. This guide will help you use the checklist effectively.
1. Indicate the Child’s Sociodemographic Profile
Start by filling out the child’s sociodemographic profile on the first page of the checklist.
This section includes basic information about the child such as name, age, and other relevant details.
2. Compute the Child’s Age
Calculate the child’s age by subtracting the birth date from the date the checklist is administered.
Example:
- Date Tested: 2008-12-19
- Child’s Date of Birth: 2006-03-09
The child’s age is computed as:
- Year: 2008 – 2006 = 2
- Month: 12 – 3 = 9
- Day: 19 – 9 = 10
The child’s age is 2 years, 9 months, and 10 days.
If the day of the test is earlier than the birth day, borrow days from the month.
If the month of the test is earlier than the birth month, borrow months from the year.
3. Administer the Assessment Items
The checklist is divided into seven major components according to developmental domains.
Each component has specific instructions on how to observe and elicit responses from the child.
Materials/Procedure
Follow the guidelines in the “Materials/Procedure” column to assess each item.
This section provides criteria for scoring the child’s responses.
Scoring
Mark each observed behavior with a check (✓) in the column labeled “PRESENT.”
If the behavior is not observed or not present, put a hyphen (-).
4. Demonstrate the Assessment Items
For some items, you need to demonstrate the task to make sure the child understands your instructions.
Other items may require only the parent’s report.
Look for the instruction “Parental report will suffice” for these items.
Some items need direct responses from the child.
Asking Parents/Caregivers
When in doubt about the child’s ability to perform a task, ask the parent or caregiver.
If the child is too shy or does not respond, mark “Not present” (–) in the appropriate column.
Write Your Remarks
In the last column labeled “Comments,” note any observations such as “Not applicable” or “Response not displayed in two out of three trials.”
This structured approach guarantees that the assessment is thorough and accurate, providing valuable insights into the child’s development.
Video: Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Advocacy Video | Robi Domingo
The ECCD Council plays a primary role in supporting the government’s efforts for early childhood programs, focusing on children aged 0-4. Their flagship program, the National Child Development Centers (NCDCs), serves as community-based hubs for integrated health, nutrition, early education, and social services for Filipino children, providing a comprehensive approach to child development.
Conclusion
The DSWD’s Early Childhood Care and Development system is an important program that supports the holistic growth and development of children from birth to five years old in the Philippines.
By integrating health care, nutrition, early education, and social services, the ECCD supports the foundational needs of young children, empowering parents and caregivers along the way.
Through robust partnerships with LGUs, DepED, and DOH, and underpinned by key laws like the ECCD Act and the Early Years Act, the system guarantees quality standards and equitable access to essential services.
The ECCD Information System further enhances this program by tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement.
With tools like the ECCD checklist, caregivers and professionals can effectively monitor and support children’s development.