The National Centre works to promote and improve information, knowledge, innovation and the implementation of policies in favour of younger citizens.

Its main tasks are laid down by Law no. 451/1997 and by a regulation (Presidential Decree no. 103 of 14 May 2007); more specifically, the National Centre follows an annual activity plan prepared by the National Observatory on Childhood and Adolescence.

The fields of activity of the National Centre are essentially the following: documentation, analysis, research and monitoring, information, education and training activities.