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Multi-Component Approaches (MCAs) in
Education, Health, Safety, Security, Social & Sustainable Development

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A Multi-component Approach (MCA) is a defined, coordinated set of core components, pillars or Infrastructure that includes a macro-policy, mandatory education promoting health, safety, security, personal and social development and sustainable human relationships with the environment, a minimum set of health, social and other services, minimum physical conditions and safety/sanitary standards and minimum standards for the psycho-social environment. These multiple, coordinated components are maintained in and with schools through education systems with the tangible support (funding, staffing, policy) of other sectors/ministries and their respective local agencies/ authorities. To be considered a “multi-component approach”, the MCA needs to address a broad area of human development and have at least one sector (ministry, agencies professionals) as primary or equal partner with the education sector.
Multiple levels within the education and other sectors need to be involved the MCA, including ministries, local agencies or authorities, schools, local clinics and professionals from the public and the voluntary sector. Schools are often mistakenly used as the unit of analysis and action in some descriptions of MCAs. A multi-component approach is different than a “whole school approach” which is defined more accurately as operating only at the school level instead of at all levels across several systems.  
The core components of an MCA are used to deliver multiple interventions and should, therefore, be considered as essential infrastructure supporting “multi-intervention programs” on specific issues as well as individual interventions. Another source of confusion stems from the use of the terms such as policy or education as an area or domain of work rather than a defined infrastructure such as a core curriculum or defined set of services. When used in this way, MCAs are essentially acting as planning frameworks to guide the development of multi-intervention programs (MIPs) that include policy, educational, service and environmental interventions. This use sometimes obscures the need for establishing and maintain a core set of components or infrastructure. The FRESH Framework describes a list of four components common to all MCAs. Other frameworks have listed three, five and even 12 components. 
There are several published MCAs, including Health Promoting Schools (with the health sector), Child Friendly Schools (with child protection & human rights), School Health & Nutrition/Feeding (Development & Agriculture sectors), the Essential Package of Interventions (Development & Agriculture sectors), Safe Schools (Law Enforcement) , Inclusive Schools(Learning disabilities) , Community Schools (Social Protection), WASH (Sanitation), Disaster Risk Reduction(Civil Protection) , Education in Emergencies (Relief Aid), Education for Sustainable Development (Environment)  and others. The education sector works with several sectors, so they often use several MCA’s simultaneously, with different parts of the education system using different MCA’s in their interactions with different sectors.
A systems approach should be used to build and maintain MCAs at multiple levels across multiple sectors. Other criteria beyond the delivery of interventions should be used to evaluate MCAs. These include their contextual fit, implementation quality, system & organizational capacity, sustainability as an approach, integration within the core concerns of education systems and the effective use of systems science and organizational development strategies.

This summary was first posted in June 2019. It was revised and is now published as a "first edition". However, we encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section.
A Multi-component Approach (MCA) is a defined, coordinated set of core components, pillars or Infrastructure that promote the health, safety, security, personal & social development and sustainable human relationships with the environment. The core components of an MCA include a macro-policy, classroom instruction & extended educational activities, a minimum set of health, social and other services, minimum physical conditions and safety/sanitary standards and minimum standards for the psycho-social environment. These multiple, coordinated components are maintained in and with schools through education systems with the tangible support (funding, staffing, policy) of other ministries and their local agencies. To be considered a “multicomponent approach”, the MCA needs to address a broad area of human development and have at least one sector (ministry, agencies professionals) as primary or equal partner with the education sector.
Multiple levels within the education and other sectors need to be involved in MCAs, including ministries, local agencies or authorities, schools, local clinics and professionals. A multi-component approach is different than a “whole school approach” which describes activities operating only at the school level, often  only done by educators. The core components of an MCA are used to deliver multiple interventions and should, therefore, be considered as essential infrastructure supporting “multi-intervention programs” as well as individual interventions. Another source of confusion about MCAs stems from the use of the same terms (policy, services or education etc.) as coordinated or separate parts of a planning framework. This sometimes obscures the need to maintain a core, coordinated set of components. The FRESH Framework describes a list of four components common to all MCAs. Other frameworks have listed three, five and even 12 components. 
There are several published MCAs derived from education working with other sectors. These  include Health Promoting Schools (with health sector), Child Friendly Schools (with child protection & human rights), School Health & Nutrition/Feeding (Development & Agriculture sectors), the Essential Package of Interventions (Development & Agriculture sectors), Safe Schools (Law Enforcement), Inclusive Schools (Learning disabilities), Community Schools (Social Protection), WASH (Sanitation, Municipalities), Disaster Risk Reduction(Civil Protection), Education in Emergencies (Relief Aid), Education for Sustainable Development (Environment) and others. The education sector works with several sectors, so they often use several MCAs simultaneously.
A systems approach should be used to build and maintain MCAs at multiple levels across multiple sectors. Other criteria beyond the delivery of interventions should be used to evaluate MCAs. These include their contextual fit, implementation quality, system & organizational capacity, sustainability as an approach, integration within the core concerns of education systems and the effective use of systems science and organizational development strategies.

This summary was first posted in June 2019. It was revised and is now published as a "first edition". The following individuaks and organizations have contributed to the development of this topic.

We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment below or on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section. 
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This summary was first posted in June 2012. It was revised and is now published as a final version. However, we encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section. 
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Key research, reports and resources on this topic are posted below.  Many of the topics in this web site also have extensive bibliographies/toolboxes (BTs) published as separate documents. These lists use our BT outlines that we have developed over several years of curating these materials.
Research
Reports, Resources
Understand the Problem/Strategies

Programs & Approaches

Implement, Adapt, Integrate, Sustain

Systems Approach
Understand the Problem/Strategies

Programs & Approaches

Implement, Adapt, Integrate, Sustain

Systems Approach
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Here is our list of topics and sub-topics for this section:
- Introduction & Overview
- Education Equity, Inclusion & Success - Multi-component Approaches (MCAs)         - School Culture & Climate
          - Staff Wellness
          - Student Conduct & Discipline
          - Engaging/Empowering Youth
          - Parent Participation
          - Community Involvement/Ownership
  • Physical Environment & Resources
- Multi-Intervention Programs (MIPs)
  • How to Build a Multi-Intervention Program
- Single Interventions (Issue-Specific Programs, Policies, Services & Practices)

- Learning/Behaviour Models (LBMs)

- Behaviour & Learning Theories

- Government/Inter-Sector Actions/Levers - Workforce Development
  • Workforce Planning in HPSD
  • Teacher Education & Development
    - Early Childhood Educators
    - Primary School Teachers
    - Secondary PSHE Specialists
    - Home Economics Specialists
    - Physical Education Specialists
    - School Counsellors
    - School Psychologists
    - School Principals
  • Preparing Other Professionals to Work with or within Schools
    - School Nurses
    - School Social Workers
    - School Resource (Police) Officers
    - Security/Civil Protection Guards
    - Teaching/Learning Assistants
    - School Administrative/Clerical Staff
    - School Maintenance Staff
    - Pastoral Counsellors
    - Community Volunteers & Elders
    - Emergency Relief Aid Workers
    - Development Aid Workers
- Systems Approaches
  • A Systems Focused Paradigm
  • Contextualizing Approaches & Programs
  • Implement, Maintain, Scale Up & Sustain Programs & Approaches
  • System & Organizational Capacities
  • Integrate Within Education System Mandates, Concerns & Constraints
  • Better Use of Systems Science & Organizational Development Tools