‘Active’ Partnership

Séamus Mullen

Pubic Health Agency

Outline

Partnership Working to achieve 2

Programmes:

• Active Families Programme

• Health Promoting Homes

Future Direction:

• Joint Working Arrangements

• Developed by Western IFH Adulthood and Teenage

Transition sub groups delivered by PHA/Local

Councils/Community sector

• University of Ulster Research – parallel problem

• Role Modelling Methodology

• 12 week programme – must have parents and teenager

involved

• 14 Active Families Trainers based in community setting

Pilot Phase:

• Parents show positive shift in perceptions of their level

of fitness

• Young people:– Positive shift in morning eating habits/fruit consumption/water intake

– More emotionally positive

– Self-esteem raised

• Strong correlation between parents reported behaviour

and youths perceptions – understanding increased

through programme

• Year 2 changed method of engagement

Health Promoting Homes

• Targets prevention of obesity in children

• Integrated approach – personal development/nutrition/

physical activity

• Family setting

• More than 500 families participating to date

• Surestart/HLC Delivery Mechanism

• Winner of OFMDFM Best Practice in the Public Sector for Partnership

Working

• Won HPSS/Institute of Healthcare Management Award for Partnership

Working in 2007

Outcomes

Evaluation has shown that:

• Families remain engaged in physical activity and

healthy eating habits

• Partnership working enabled effective targeting

• Flexible framework enabled local adaptability and

encouraged ownership

• Lifestyle improvements validate holistic approach

Value of partnership

Referral mechanism

– Local knowledge

– Existing databases of vulnerable, disadvantaged

and hard to engage participants

Genuine community buy-in

Creation of local delivery Partnerships

Challenges/Opportunities

• Need to integrate programmes

• Adverse economic climate is an opportunity

• Stocktake of physical activity initiatives

• Gap analysis and joint promotion/common

corporate agendas

• A ‘Total Place’ Approach?