Child Protection in Europe: Development of an International Cross-Comparison Model to Inform National Policies and Practices

Wereportafive-nationsprojectincomparativechildprotectiontoproviderecommendations on policy and practice to inform the redevelopment of the Swiss child protection system. The Swiss Federal Government and the Optimus and Oak Foundations commissioned the project—collective title: Association Programme National pour la Protection de l’Enfant. We identify the historical developmental trajectories of child protection systems together with common drivers: the evidential basis for the prevalence and effects of child abuse, the co-joining of social and economic policies and practices to promote early investment in children, the influence of children’s rights and comparative international league tables on child well-being. We describe the cross-national project methodologyandanalysisofresults.Threekeyindicatorsfortheperformanceofnational childprotectionsystemsareindicated:creatingaculturallysensitivechildprotectiongovernance framework, building a relational heart and using evidence to inform policy and practice. These encapsulate the recommendations made with respect to the Swiss child protection system. The results provide a prototype model with potential utility in similar