The ICDP approach to training is based on the idea that the best way
to help children is by helping the children’s caregivers. It is
now well known that unless children have at least one caring adult to
love them and teach them life skills, social behaviour and morals,
their mental and emotional development will be impaired. Recent
research suggests that normal physical development of the brain
depends on proper interaction between a caring adult and the growing
child. In normal circumstances such learning happens naturally.
However when families are uprooted through social changes, migration,
catastrophes, children losing their parents, or having been numbed by
severe deprivation and emotional shock, this care often breaks down
and has to be reactivated through skilled help. If children do not
receive sufficient love and attention while they are young, the
problem can perpetuate itself because they can themselves become
inadequate parents. Therefore ICDP’s focus is on trying to break
this cycle.
ICDP began developing its training program in 1985 but an organisation
was not founded until 1992 when it was registered as a private
foundation, in Oslo, Norway, with the objective of working for the
development of children and young people. The ethos of ICDP is to
provide for human care by activating empathy and education of both
caregivers and their children.The work of ICDP is based on the
principles that are laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child. ICDP may participate directly or indirectly in activities
run by other humanitarian organisation having corresponding
objectives.
Programme - ICDP has developed a simple and culturally adaptable
programme, based on recent research in child development that
sensitises and enriches the relationship between caregivers and their
children. Local child rearing practices are identified and reactivated
in order to stimulate development that is truly authentic and long
lasting. The main aim of ICDP training is to build competence and
confidence in the members of a community or an existing child caring
system and to transfer the project to the local resource persons.
Implementation - The ICDP program was originally developed for
parents/caregivers of very young children. Over the years it has
proved to be relevant for caregivers of older children too. The
program can be used in the area of prevention and rehabilitation in
different contexts; to train staff in centres and institutions for
children, to improve relational abilities of teachers in preschools
and schools, or as a parenting programme working through networks,
such as primary health care or social services. The ICDP programme can
help develop standards for human care in emergency situations, when
young children are placed in camps or institutions due to war,
migration, catastrophes, abandonment or abuse.
Training – Workshops are given on 3 different levels, followed
by practical application of ICDP in 2 ‘self-training
projects’. At the first level of training participants implement
the programme directly with families. The second level of training
qualifies participants to train others. The final level of training
authorizes participants to supervise the future developments of ICDP
in their communities.
Read the ICDP News online. (Note: The URL contains spaces which means that some computers will not be able to access it. If you have trouble, go to http://www.icdp.info)
ICDP is active in 15 countries. For more information see www.icdp.info
Charity Registration No. 92/04227 Org. no. 971259906N
Contact:
ICDP, Head-office in Norway,
Anne Maries vei 14b ICDP,
Oslo, Norway
Tel. +47 21 39 34 16 Tel.
ICDP@ICDP.NO