Institute of Child Health

The Institute of Child Health (ICH) is a semi-public research institute, founded in 1965 and supervised by the Hellenic Ministry of Health. Throughout its 51 years of existence it has been developing a wide range of actions in the field of child protection including specialized clinical and laboratory services, health promotion, research and training of health and social services professionals. The Department of Mental Health and Social Welfare, in particular, former Department of Family Relations, from its original establishment in 1979, has been the only public institution delivering specialized services for the prevention and control of child abuse and neglect in our country. Since 1988 it is the designated Centre for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Greece and is, thus, particularly focused on implementing activities in the field of child protection, such as epidemiological and social research, delivery of clinical services, health promotion and education programmes, as well as raising public awareness and lobbying for reforms in legislation and practice. In this context, the last 20 years the Department has implemented numerous EU-funded projects (DAPHNE, FP7, 3rd Supportive Framework Program for Greece, INTERRREG IIIA Initiative, ISEC, REC) all regarding research, trainings of professionals and interventions related to child abuse and neglect and in general child care and protection. Moreover, strong collaboration has been established with international organisations and European institutions committed to the prevention and study of child abuse and neglect.