Child abuse and neglect is a global problem as are the associated risk factors. Most countries have a form of primary healthcare for children 0 – 5 years of age. This enables the adoption of the SEEK approach by primary healthcare professionals and workers in these settings. Ideally, the approach should be tested for effectiveness in different countries.

In Sweden, SEEK is being studied through a cluster-randomized, controlled trial in which 20,000 families participated in a two-year intervention between 2018-2020. This longitudinal study will follow the health and well-being of the children and their parents through 2029. So far, two scientific papers have been published and a three more are in preparation, and the study will be the focus of a doctoral thesis in September of 2023. The SEEK approach has now been fully implemented in five of Sweden’s 21 counties, pilot projects are ongoing in five more counties with full implementation planned for the fall of 2023 and preparations are underway to initiate pilots in three counties. Steven Lucas, MD, PhD at Uppsala University is leading this work.

SEEK has been presented at many national and international conferences, including for the World Health Organization.

If you’re interested in implementing the SEEK approach outside the US, please contact us.