Sustainable Cities, Smart Investments: A Characterization of “A Thousand Days-San Miguel”, a Program for Vulnerable Early Childhood in Argentina

Abstract

In this paper, we provide a thorough description of the “Programa de Acompañamiento Familiar Mil Días” (A Thousand Days, Mil Días), introduced in 2015 in the Municipality of San Miguel, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program is targeted at pregnant women and mothers with children of up to two years of age who are in a situation of extreme social and health vulnerability. While the target relevant period is the first thousand days of life, from gestation to two years of age, the intended duration is about a year, or until entrance criteria are overcome. We combine statistical analysis of the program’s primary data with qualitative analysis from two in-depth interviews. Our evidence confirms that Mil Días-SM effectively reaches a highly vulnerable population that exhibits interlocking material and educational deprivations, frequently combined with conflict-home environments, and children experiencing health neglect. The one-on-one mentoring provided through the program, along with a battery of other interventions, brings knowledge and support to these families. Children start receiving appropriate stimuli, mothers become aware of the importance of health care for them and their children, and they start feeling more empowered to take command of their lives and families. While the program exhibits remarkable attributes, we identify three aspects in which it could be improved: extending the intended duration time, reducing its dropout rate devising tools to retain the most vulnerable cases, and scaling up its coverage. Current evidence suggests programs like Mil Días are smart investments that can simultaneously contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals.