The six municipalities (Amersfoort, Hardenberg, Kempengemeenten, Súdwest-Fryslân, Texel and Urk) took part in a three-year pilot.

The municipalities indicated that their enthusiasm was fueled by:

  • An integrated, positive and long-term vision for youth policy
  • Improved and renewed cooperation with local partners
  • Science and local data as the basis for policy

The municipalities still saw challenges for implementation:

  • Involving and reaching parents
  • Continuing to involve and motivate partners

At the end of the report, the authors make five recommendations:

Recommendation 1: Encourage the further implementation of the Icelandic prevention model in the Netherlands.

Recommendation 2: Allow municipalities to lead the implementation of the Icelandic prevention model. However, four conditions must be met:

  • Administrative and political support
  • Sufficient capacity
  • Qualified project manager
  • Sufficient financial resources

Recommendation 3: Invest in long-term, local cooperation.

Recommendation 4: Safeguard the valuable features of Icelandic monitoring in the GGD GHOR youth health monitor. Conditions also apply here:

  • The measurement must take place more frequently (at least once every two years).
  • The results of the questionnaire (in report form) should be available at municipal and school level within two to three months after it has been administered.
  • Data must come from a representative proportion of the relevant age group, with a minimum response rate of 80 percent. This may require closer alliances with education providers, and this type of monitoring should become an automatic part of the system.
  • For municipalities working according to the Icelandic model, the Iceland module should be included in the flexible section of the GGD questionnaire, containing additional protective and risk factors.
  • Shortly after the questionnaire has been administered, the results should be discussed with local partners in a clear and easily understandable way, interpreted, and used as input for developing and adjusting prevention policy.

Recommendation 5: Support the implementation of the Icelandic prevention model.

The authors recommend that, if the Icelandic model is implemented more widely in the Netherlands, the national government assign a communicative, facilitating and supporting role to one or more Dutch national organizations with the appropriate knowledge and capacity. This support should meet the following requirements:

  • For further implementation, it is important to clearly describe the knowledge about the Icelandic model and the experiences of Dutch municipalities, so that new municipalities can incorporate the lessons learned into their implementation. A guide for municipalities, describing the necessary conditions and an implementation roadmap, would be appropriate here.
  • The knowledge and expertise can best be shared through training courses, knowledge sessions and other forms of knowledge development. Municipalities should receive the right support at the right time in the process.
  • Tailored support is important here—support that is more intensive and proactive than the support provided during the learning process.
  • It is important that knowledge institutes make knowledge about relevant effective interventions more accessible than was the case during the learning process.
  • Exchange between participating municipalities should be facilitated.
  • GGD GHOR, RIVM and local GGDs should be supported in integrating the Icelandic features into the GGD GHOR youth health monitor.

Click here for the final report download.

Click here for the infographic.