Developing a school health promotion charter for South Australia: Intersectoral and interagency collaboration Janine Phillips Health Promoting Schools Coordinator Centre for Health Promotion June 2007

Acknowledgement of Country I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay my respects to the Elders both past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of their people.

Adelaide, South Australia

The CHP is part of the Community Health Division of the Population and Primary Health Directorate of the Children Youth and Women’s Health Service. Total budget of 1.4m, 20 staff. We support: - internal health promotion - the health and education sectors - ATSI people. In the areas of: - infant and maternal health - parenting - healthy weight. Key principles are equity, capacity building, working in partnership and settings. The Centre for Health Promotion

An overview

The context Health Both state and federal responsibility for health In 2002 Generational Health Review commissioned Divided state into 4 health regions State Strategic Plan: Improving wellbeing −decrease levels of smoking, −increase levels of healthy weight, −increase life expectancy and improve quality of life −decrease chronic disease −improve mental health and −reduce low birth-weight babies

The context Education State governments have responsibility for education but Federal Governments provide the funding. There are 3 education sectors in South Australia: Government (Department of Education and Children’s Services) Catholic Education Independent Schools Total sites 1181 Government sector divided into 18 Districts each with regional management responsibility

Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive The history of health and education working together Schools deliver curriculum. Health delivers information and clinical services in schools. The health and education collaboratively develop a health promotion best practice resource COMMUNITY Education Health 1995 Schools recognise the benefits of safe, supportive environments for learning. Health introduces the HPS concept. School based collaboration. A strategic partnership to develop a health promotion ‘Statement of Collaborative Intent ’ Health and education jointly implement workforce development. Joint development of models of effective practice. Joint health promotion planning. Education sector promotes whole school approaches. Health sector support provided to schools. Health support planning discussions begin. Progression of health promotion collaboration in SA schools

The 1980s During this time, the health sector provided services directly to school such as: clinical services vaccination and dental care health information to inform curriculum health ‘expert’ sessions to students staff health and fitness programs. Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive

The 1990s The introduction of the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) concept in the mid 1990s Safe, supportive, holistic learning environments Health Education Interagency Advisory Committee School Development in Health Education Not structured or systemic Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive

The early 2000s By the early 2000s, the education sector had begun to promote the use of whole school approaches −‘The Drug Strategy’ −relationships and sexual health School sites implementing the Drug Strategy were encouraged to form partnerships with relevant health agencies. Health Support Planning −DECS driven −dedicated position established to coordinate work Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive

The formation of the child health and education support services (chess) Chief Executive sign off Alliance: nominees from −health −education −childcare −welfare −disability −Aboriginal health Reference groups and working parties Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive

The Statement of Collaborative Intent was developed. The Interagency Action Plan puts the commitment into action. There are 6 target areas: −policy −information −training −research −service pathways −hospital education services.

The mid 2000s Getting health and education working together often posed problems. These included: −different ‘language and culture’ −different desired outcomes of the two sectors −different perceptions of the responsibilities of the two sectors −health initiatives funded as short term ‘projects’ in −lack of a strategic focus on collaboration across sectors. Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive

The ‘Health Promotion: Better Health, Better Learning’ guidelines developed −evidence based −practical information −web-based −checklist

The Health promotion: better health, better learning guidelines outline how health services can work with educators in a planned and coordinated way, building on goodwill, good ideas - and good practice principles. Deb Kay, Manager Interagency Health, DECS

chess Health Promotion Taskforce Needs assessment −mental health key issues −more systemic approach to collaboration −single point of access to health support The ‘Statement of Collaborative Intent; Health Promotion in Education and Children’s Services’ - systemic approach - capacity building - healthy weight Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive Developing the ‘Statement of Collaborative Intent: Health Promotion in Education and Children’s Services’

‘Working across sectors is so important for improving health but is not always easy to do. Having a clear statement of commitment that underpins the work is a vital support for action. Michele Herriot, Director Health Promotion Branch, Department of Health, SA ‘ This has been a wonderful opportunity for all health regions to work together with education. It provides a real focus for intersectoral collaboration’. Christine Morris, Director Health Promotion, SA Dental Service ‘chess provides an excellent vehicle for agencies to work together in rural communities. Nothing can be more important to rural communities than the overall status of their children in health and wellbeing and in learning and development. Partnerships are the pathway to the future and chess provides a simple and strategic process to support this happening’. Kevin Eglinton, General Manager - Health Services. Primary Health Care, Country Health SA chess makes it simple and strategic. We can use what’s already been agreed to help us work together for better health and learning outcomes for Aboriginal children and families. Debbie Moyle, Senior Policy Officer, Aboriginal Early Childhood Education ‘ All professionals working in the helping professions including GPs, teachers and clinicians working at the coal face should adopt an approach which includes advocating a mental health promoting lifestyle. One of the great values of chess is that it is creates an awareness and obligation for all of us (not just mental health workers) to work together to promote a mentally healthy lifestyle for all ages’. Clive Skene, Director Southern Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

Executive Middle management School staff Health service staff Middle management Executive The history of health and education working together Schools deliver curriculum. Health delivers information and clinical services in schools. The health and education collaboratively develop a health promotion best practice resource COMMUNITY Education Health 1995 Schools recognise the benefits of safe, supportive environments for learning. Health introduces the HPS concept. School based collaboration. A strategic partnership to develop a health promotion ‘Statement of Collaborative Intent ’ Health and education jointly implement workforce development. Joint development of models of effective practice. Joint health promotion planning. Education sector promotes whole school approaches. Health sector support provided to schools. Health support planning discussions begin. Progression of health promotion collaboration in SA schools

Key factors for success At a macro level: formation of health regions health support planning formation of chess having the Better Health, Better Learning Guidelines At a micro level: Right people on the Taskforce (level of power and influence) Sorting our agendas over a one year time period Truly collaborative within existing resources

Operationalising Working party Strategic plan Action plan Awareness raising Joint planning Conference April 2008 Workforce development sessions on BHBL

What now? What now? SA Health Promoting Settings Network ?

Acknowledgements Alberta Collation of Healthy School Communities Ever Active Schools Lori Baugh Littlejohns Doug Gleddie Donna Thompson Dr Alison Smith Deb Kay Staff of the Centre for Health Promotion