The dissertation consists of: A.- Theoretical framework, composed of chapters I, II, and III. B.- Context, chapter IV. C.- Practical framework, containing chapter V. D.- Results, comprising chapters VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X. E.- Bibliography. Appendices.
Some of the core axes supporting this thesis are: the concept of childhood; current care and attention trends in the Western world; and the importance of respecting children’s rights. Early childhood care should be envisioned as a form of social construction, as high quality in care serves as a guarantee for the future. Socially developed countries have understood this, in contrast to the vulnerability and fragility in which young children grow up in developing countries. To prevent risks, it is necessary to start from baseline “normality” parameters. For this reason, indicators used to measure service quality have been analyzed, although many of them are designed to provide prevention guidelines rather than direct action steps.
The fieldwork describes and contextualizes the three neighborhoods in L’Hospitalet on which the study focused: Collblanc-la Torrassa, Gornal, and Sant Josep. In the subsequent analysis, it is established that the city as a whole possesses a considerable number of centers, services, programs, associations, and social initiatives to address immediate challenges. The areas studied are: healthcare, education, social services, disability support, immigration, leisure, and culture. To ensure authentic insight, data was collected from various stakeholders using diverse instruments. The perspectives of 31 managers, 116 professionals, and 238 families from existing centers, services, and programs were gathered through visits, interviews, and questionnaires.
Key conclusions include:
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The need to unify the messaging provided to families regarding childcare and early intervention.
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Mothers continue to play a leading role during early childhood, and the family structure consisting of a father, mother, and child or children remains predominant in the analyzed population.
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There is alignment regarding goals and activities. Managers and professionals focus on direct intervention with children across each of the analyzed domains.
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Families feel adequately listened to and believe their children are well cared for, sharing the positive perception held by managers and professionals.
- A common difficulty is the lack of resources—especially staffing—to meet the steadily increasing demand across centers, services, and programs in all areas.
- Professionals emphasize the limited opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan their work with adequate strategic perspective.
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There is consensus on the need to improve and increase coordination of actions across entities as an immediate way to make the most of existing resources.
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There is a clear shortage of services for children aged 0 to 3 across the entire city. It is necessary to rethink several existing centers, services, and programs, as well as optimize the operation of others, both for this age group, for children aged 3 to 6, and for early childhood in general.
The final synthesis indicates that childhood must be viewed as an active component of the city’s social fabric. Providing children with the care they deserve would serve as the best benchmark for measuring citizens’ expectations of public administration.