Research, Information and Policy Making  with Reference to Children's Well-Being

The tasks of assuring progress in children’s welfare and well-being as well as creating a supportive environment in which they can flourish are not optional - they are imperative.  For this purpose, the Center for Research and Development (CRD) focuses on studying and monitoring the state of the child in Israel.

The CRD has contributed a great deal to the body of knowledge available regarding Israeli children. The work of the CRD includes:

 Collecting data on the situation of children within Israeli society's various sectors.  Since October 1992, the CRD has annually published the State of the Child in Israel, the first and only statistical yearbook of its kind in Israel that exposes all aspects and dimensions regarding the state of the child in Israel. 

 Research projects through which there exists a potential for improvement in the quality of life and opportunities for children are encouraged and initiated by the Center, often in collaboration with other public-interest organizations.  Some examples include studies on the prevalence of accidents, child poverty, and juvenile offenders.

 Over 70 publications published address a variety of issues related to children's rights and welfare. 

 The Center commissions and assists in the preparation of position papers and practical proposals that lead toward the formulation of policy and the development of services for children. 

 Initiation of research and the collection of data in areas of importance and impact on the welfare of children in general and those who have been "neglected" from a research standpoint, in particular. 

 The international project "Measuring and Monitoring Children's Well-Being", was initiated by the CRD to develop new indicators and useful tools to study the progress and problems of children in the Western world today (http://multinational-indicators.chapinhall.org). 

 The Center engages in an ongoing dialogue with policy-makers in order to establish a national policy on behalf of the Israeli child. 

 The Center encourages cooperation between organizations and persons working on behalf of children and youth.  For example, the establishment of “Reli” Early Childhood Network, connecting organizations concerned with young children.

 The Business Forum for the Child, established by the CRD, is a group of senior business executives representing leading Israeli businesses who volunteer their time, services and expertise to the NCC.