Municipalities can use the broad SPUK scheme for OKO

About OKO

With OKO, everyone in the municipality works together to create this positive environment for young people in the following settings: at home (family), at school, among friends (peer group) and in their free time. These are the four domains at the heart of OKO. OKO focuses on young people aged 10 to 18.

In Iceland, this successful approach was introduced 20 years ago. OKO is therefore based on the approach of the Icelandic prevention model, developed by Planet Youth.

The living environment (domains)

OKO focuses on the key factors in young people’s living environment that reduce the risk of substance use (protective factors) or increase the risk (risk factors). These factors have emerged from scientific research. In each of the four domains – Family, School, Peer group and Leisure time – partners work together on these factors. They strengthen the protective factors and address the risk factors.

Protective factors

For example, parental support and a positive atmosphere at school increase young people’s happiness. These protective factors can also prevent them from drinking, smoking or using drugs.

Risk factors

Bullying and staying out late, on the other hand, reduce young people’s happiness and increase the likelihood that they will drink, smoke or use drugs.

The OKO approach

The municipality coordinates the approach. It brings parents and local partners together to create a ‘community’ around growing young people. Together, they go through the OKO approach every two years: from monitoring to dialogue, policy development and implementation.

Monitoring

Young people in secondary education complete a questionnaire about how they feel, the extent to which they use alcohol, drugs or tobacco, and the presence of protective and risk factors.

Dialogue

Shortly after the questionnaire has been administered, the municipality discusses the results with schools, parents and other local partners. “What do we as a community think of the figures? What do we want to address? What can you/your organisation contribute?” Together, they determine the three most important areas for change; for example, providing more meaningful leisure activities for young people.

Policy development

For each area of change, municipalities and their partners choose the most appropriate and effective approaches and activities. These may be existing approaches or new activities. It is important that the activities and approaches strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors. Each partner can contribute based on its own capabilities and expertise. Examples of activities/interventions include expanding the range of leisure activities for young people, supporting parents and promoting a positive and healthy school climate.

Implementation

The municipality and its partners implement the planned approaches and activities. At the end of the cycle, an evaluation takes place and the approach starts again with the questionnaire (monitoring).

The principles of OKO

The principles of OKO are to work as follows:

• Evidence-based: we do what works, with research and information about young people in the municipality guiding the actions and activities we carry out.
• Together with the community: the municipality involves organisations and individuals in the local environment as much as possible.
• Always in dialogue: researchers, policymakers and practitioners continue to engage in dialogue with one another.
• Sustainable: the approach is used over a longer period of time. Sufficient financial resources are made available for this longer period.

OKO is based on the Icelandic prevention model.

Participating OKO municipalities principles of OKO

More than 30 municipalities currently work with the Growing up in a Promising Environment (OKO) approach.

OKO and the broad SPUK scheme

As a municipality, you can apply for funding for the implementation of OKO through the SPUK scheme. For the next application round, municipalities must draw up an integrated plan of action (the deadline for submission to the VNG is 30 September 2023). Include OKO in this plan if your municipality wants to join the OKO support programme as of 1 January 2024. Applying through the broad SPUK scheme does not yet mean that a municipality participates in OKO. You can read here how a municipality can participate in the implementation programme from 1 January 2024: participate in Growing up in a Promising Environment. In addition, the broad SPUK scheme also provides resources for other aspects of healthy development, such as mental health, the living environment and strengthening the social foundation, which can also contribute to OKO in your municipality.