Partnership between the NYCI, the Health Service Executive and the Department of

Children and Youth Affairs

National Youth Health Programme

Kevin O’ Hagan Siobhan Brennan www.youthhealth.ie

Tel:01 478 4122

What we do? Broad range of Youth Health Promotion Training courses

Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion (accredited by NUI Galway)

Health Quality Mark:

Health promoting Youth Organisation

Resource Development Support, advice and information service

Health Quality Mark

Aim of the Health Quality Mark

To recognise and acknowledge quality health promotion in Youth Organisations.

Context for the Health Quality MarkQuestions regarding the Impact and Sustainability of training

International good practice regarding quality frameworks in Health Promotion

Developed from the World Health Organisation - Health Promotion School concept

Identified need for professional development on Health promotion within youth sector.

Based on evidence informed Settings based approach to Health Promotion

Rational for Health Quality Mark

The Settings based approach to Health Promotion:

“ The place or social context in which people engage in daily activities in which environmental organisational and personal factors interact to affect health and wellbeing.”

World Health Organisation (1998)

A Health Promoting Environment:

•

•People feel valued

• Self-esteem is fostered

• Respect, tolerance and fairness are evident

• High expectations and standards are promoted

• Support for those in difficulties

• Effort recognised and rewarded

• Uniqueness and difference are valued.

• Conflict is handled constructively

• Initiative and creativity are encouraged

• Social, Moral and civic values are promoted.

The Health Quality Mark encourages and facilitates youth organisations to develop and deliver a ‘whole organisational approach’ to promoting health. This can happen at four distinct levels as follows:

Health Quality Mark

Objectives of HQM

To develop and sustain quality health promotion in youth organisations.

To ensure good practice in health promotion through needs assessment, planning, implementing and evaluation of all health promotion activities throughout the organisation

To promote a whole organisational approach to Health Promotion

To ensure that health related policies, programmes and practice are integrated effectively.

To promote the health of all those involved in the youth organisation

To ensure that work is consistently documented.

To stimulate and encourage a culture of assessing quality.

Objectives of HQM

3 Year Process Phase 1: Expression of interest and meeting with Health Team

Phase 2: Completion of Specialist CertPhase 3: Agree procedures for ongoing support

Phase 4: Portfolio of evidencePhase 5: Assessment of portfolio and site visit (NYHP & HSE staff)

Phase 6: Ongoing support to sustain HQM (CIP) – HQM Support Network

HQM StructureGold HQ-Mark All 12 criteria to be successfully implemented

Silver HQ-Mark Any 8 criteria to be successfully implemented

Bronze HQ-Mark 4 Criteria : Any 2 criteria plus : 1. Health Promotion

2. Health Promoters Role Description

& Terms of Reference for the Health

Promotion Team

Health Quality Mark Criteria

1. Health promotion policy2. Health promoter & health promotion team

3. Health promotion strategy to include Youth Health & Workplace.

4. Youth participation structures5. Peer Health Promotion Initiative6. Resource Bank for Health promotion

7. Training plan for staff, volunteers and management

8. Inter-sectoral working and partnerships

9. Model of Good Practice for Health Promotion Activities: Needs Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation

10. Health and Safety Policy and Procedures

11. Ensuring and Promoting Equality and Inclusiveness

12. Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Health Quality Mark Criteria

Evaluation of the Health Quality MarkThe HQM has positive impacts at the level of individual young people, staff, volunteers and the organisation

Process is very importantHaving a target of an award to work toward is described as motivating

The assessment dimension indicates a respect for the process and results in satisfaction

Criteria highlight areas that require attention

NUI Galway 2007

Evaluation of the Health Quality Mark

Impact on Young People: It was seen to instill a sense of pride and

achievementIt provided greater opportunities to work on

health related topicsIt enhanced their experience of youth

participation through greater involvement in all aspects of health promotion in the organisation

It increased their self confidence It impacted positively on their overall health

status, e.g. through the provision of needs-based programmes on cooking and nutrition, the provision of healthy food and snacks.

Evaluation of the Health Quality Mark

Impact on Staff and Volunteers: Providing staff with training opportunitiesFostering a greater awareness of youth health issuesImproving teamwork and a sense of ownership of the

HQM process.

Impact on the Youth Organisation: Familiarise staff with the process of information

gatheringEnhance the image of the organisation within the

communityProvide tangible evidence of their quality of work in

relation to healthImprove overall teamwork between staff and

managementEmbed the issue of health within the overall work of the

organisation.

ChallengesSwitching focus from Award to Process

Staff turnoverMoving from individual to team approach

Moving from issue based health promotion to ‘a whole organisational approach’

Perception of the ‘assessment process’

HQM Organisations: 40 Youth Organisations involved in the process.

Target of 50 by end of 2012

Support Manual available to assist organisation in the reflection process and preparation of the portfolio.

Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion (accredited by NUIG)

Summary of course content:

•Theory and Practice of Health Education, Health Promotion

•Group work – Presentation and Facilitation Skills

•Quality Assurance in Youth Health Promotion

•Needs Assessment, Planning, Implementation and

Evaluation

•Mission, Vision, Ethos, Policy Development, Strategy

Development

•Partnership, Advocacy, Lobbying, Youth Participation

•Practical assignments linked to the work of the

organisation and HQM

Auditing your Organisation

1. Health promotion policy

2. Health promoter & health promotion team

3. Health promotion strategy to include Youth Health & Workplace.

4. Youth participation structures

5. Peer Health Promotion Initiative

6. Resource Bank for Health promotion

7. Training plan for staff, volunteers and management

8. Inter-sectoral working and partnerships

9. Model of Good Practice for Health Promotion Activities

11. Ensuring and Promoting

Equality and

Inclusiveness

12. Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Partnership between the NYCI, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Children and

Youth Affairs

National Youth Health Programme

Kevin O’ Hagan Siobhan Brennan www.youthhealth.ie

Tel:01 478 4122