[Early childhood prevention: implications for applied research and quality management].

The importance of prevention has received increasing recognition the world over. In Germany, laws are being enacted and initiatives are taken to make prevention a firmly anchored and integral part of public health care. Preventive measures in early childhood encompass a great breadth and variety of resources. However, any specific preventive measure can only be justified to the extent that it has been proven to be efficient and effective. In Germany small collection of studies have shown the efficacy of psychosocial prevention and early intervention programs. Quality standards can only be determined when empirical evidence has demonstrated the prerequisites for ensuring successful treatment. Criteria for success must include life quality or academic success (school achievement). The stability of the family must also be assessed both before and after the intervention.