Impuls Early Intervention Service Earns Spanish Certification for Positive Parenting Excellence

The Impuls early intervention service, run by Fundació Privada Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, has received a certification from Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda, along with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. Promoted by Plena Inclusió España, the award followed a rigorous training and evaluation process and recognizes the service's promotion of positive parenting.

Meritxell Ciria, the service director since 2022, described the recognition as validation of her team's efforts to prioritize families, strengthen parental skills, and create safe, affectionate, and stimulating environments for children. "It also reaffirms our commitment to quality and continuous improvement," she added. Ciria emphasized that Impuls applies a respectful approach from the first contact, fostering good treatment and parental competencies. The service builds horizontal relationships where families, educators, and professionals collaborate as equals, empowering parents as key educators.

Positive parenting emphasizes respect, affection, clear boundaries, and support to strengthen family bonds, reduce parental stress, build family confidence, improve children's emotional regulation, and promote healthy development.

Impuls specializes in supporting children up to age six at risk of or facing developmental delays in areas like language, motor skills, behavior, social abilities, psychomotor function, or autism risk—such as premature infants. In 2025, the service assisted 68 families with a multidisciplinary team including physiotherapists, psychologists, and speech therapists. Interventions occur in natural settings like homes and nursery schools, capitalizing on high brain plasticity in early years to prevent long-term impacts, enhance learning, and improve daily functioning.

Early detection often comes from parental intuition or nursery school educators, who serve as key observers. Ciria stressed avoiding delays in seeking help, as timely action can resolve issues and create lasting family expertise. The certification establishes Impuls as a leading model for child development and family support, extending its influence beyond Andorra.