In partnership with Ishøj Municipality, we have joined forces to find new ways to promote health and wellbeing among children and young people in the municipality. The partnership is based on the vision that all children and young people in Ishøj should have the opportunity to thrive in daycare, school, and leisure time – and grow up with a healthy life, both physically and mentally. We call the partnership “Good Lives 2635.”
A Shared Goal – New Pathways
Together, we will develop, test, and evaluate new solutions. The project is rooted in a systems-oriented approach that views health and wellbeing as closely connected and influenced by many factors at the same time.
At the same time, the partnership is built on co-creation. Citizens, professionals, the municipal administration, civil society, and local stakeholders will work together to understand the local challenges and develop local solutions.
The partnership therefore does not present a ready-made solution or method. It is something that must be developed together.
Complex Challenges
Mental distress and overweight among children and young people are complex societal challenges that call for new answers.
International experiences – for example from the Netherlands – show that working with health in a systems-oriented way at the municipal level makes a difference. Some projects have succeeded in reducing the proportion of children with overweight. Experience also shows that when solutions are developed in close collaboration with the local community, stronger ownership and more sustainable change are created.
Our partnership with Ishøj Municipality builds on these experiences – and will demonstrate how, in a Danish municipality, we can create a healthier everyday life together.
From Vision to Action
Ishøj Municipality has already set a strategic direction with an ambition to reduce the number of children with severe overweight while at the same time strengthening mental wellbeing.
The partnership makes it possible to translate that ambition into practice through new methods and broad collaborations. The Centre for Childhood Health will facilitate processes, contribute knowledge and research, and co-finance local initiatives that can make a real difference for children and young people in the municipality.
In the videos below, you can hear and see what children and young people in Ishøj themselves dream of. The videos are in Danish.
