In many places, schools, municipalities and municipal health services are already joining forces to make attention to a healthy lifestyle the norm. But how do you work together in practice? And what are the success factors and points to consider? Healthy School collected ten inspiring stories about collaboration. They can be read in the booklet Stronger Together for a Healthy Youth.

Ten examples

The booklet Stronger Together for a Healthy Youth contains ten inspiring examples:

  1. Municipality of Smallingerland invests in healthy schools – Anke de Vries, health policy adviser for the municipality of Smallingerland, and Tom Brandsma, health promotion officer at GGD Fryslân
  2. Less sugar in Zoetermeer – Irma Ronkes Agerbeek, principal, and Rolinda Vonk, deputy principal of OBS De Waterlelie Zoetermeer
  3. Green, healthy and active – Grete Visser, alderwoman of Nijmegen
  4. Kempenbranie creates a healthy and stimulating environment for young people – Petra de Graaff, support coordinator at Rythovius College
  5. Healthy School: a spearhead of local health policy – Marieke van Bijnen, alderwoman, and Nico Brandts, policy officer for Pijnacker-Nootdorp
  6. Positive Health: taking charge of your own vitality – Roland Robijn, Healthy School coordinator and project leader for Vitality at ROC Midden Nederland
  7. Well-being in Amersfoort – Liesbeth Faber and Meike Hensing, Healthy School advisers at GGD Utrecht region
  8. A healthy ISK – Cora van der Haar, location director of ISK Sneek
  9. 2+1+2; as simple as it is effective – Geert Geurken, strategic adviser for sports and physical activity at Sportbedrijf, and Peter Dooijeweerd, chair of the Executive Board of Delta Scholengroep Arnhem
  10. “Use your existing contacts to promote vitality at your school” – Frank Schoonbrood, coordinator of Vista Vitaal at Vista College Zuid-Limburg

Ten ingredients

The booklet also contains ten ingredients for healthy collaboration:

  1. Start by developing a shared vision and ambition
  2. Connect with current developments in education and the municipality
  3. Take the time to learn about each other’s worlds
  4. Pay attention to each other’s interests and motivations
  5. Ensure administrative commitment
  6. Keep the ‘figure eight’ close
  7. Safeguard the collaboration agreements
  8. Look for smart connections
  9. Strive to break down budget silos
  10. Facilitate a central coordinator