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Local project aims to strengthen children’s and young people’s health and well-being – experiences to be used nationally

With 22 million DKK, we are strengthening the partnership with Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality on children’s and young people’s health and well-being. The ambition is that the knowledge and experience gained can later be used by other municipalities.

Most children and young people in Denmark are doing well. However, several national surveys indicate that children’s and young people’s health and well-being are under pressure. The challenges are complex and linked to everyday life, habits, and the environments in which children and young people grow up.

That is why we are strengthening our collaboration with Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, so that local solutions can contribute to national knowledge on how challenges related to health and well-being can be addressed earlier and in a more coordinated way.

Three focus areas of major importance

With an investment of just under DKK 22 million over the next four years, the partnership will develop and test new ways of working in a more coordinated and data-driven manner with children’s and young people’s health and well-being. This will take place in close collaboration with Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, where initiatives will be developed and tested close to children, young people, and staff.

The effort focuses on three areas that are of great importance for both health and well-being among children and young people:

Sleep, which is crucial for learning and well-being and can also help prevent the development of high weight

Participation in leisure communities, which strengthen social relationships, structure, and access to physical activity

Early and coordinated intervention, which is important for preventing poor well-being, long-term school absenteeism, and health challenges.

The focus areas have been selected based on local and national data, research, as well as analyses and input from young people and staff in Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality.

Local action – national value

Although the partnership is rooted in Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, its purpose is national. The Centre for Childhood Health will gather experiences from the collaboration and translate them into methods that can be used by other municipalities in their work with children’s and young people’s health and well-being.

“Challenges related to health, well-being, and high weight among children and young people are a national issue that cannot be solved through isolated initiatives. We need better coordination, earlier intervention, and smarter use of data if we want to prevent problems rather than repair them. That is why we are investing in developing and testing new methods that can later benefit many more children and young people,” says Annegrete Juul, Director of the Centre for Childhood Health.

The partnership is carried out in close cooperation with researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen, who contribute with research, evaluation, and continuous learning.

We need better coordination, earlier intervention, and smarter use of data if we want to prevent problems rather than repair them
Annegrete Juul, Director, Centre for Childhood Health

More targeted use of data

Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality is participating in the partnership as an active partner, providing practical experience, professional expertise, and local data.

“In Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, we want to take the lead and take responsibility. Our collaboration with the Centre for Childhood Health gives us the opportunity to be curious, experimental, and attentive. Like in a laboratory, where we try things out and have the chance to develop solutions together with the children and young people themselves,” says Mayor Anstina Krogh (Social Democrats).

One of the aims of the partnership is to help municipalities become even better at using knowledge and data to map local challenges and resources, support decision-making, and launch new initiatives.

“I believe it will be a great help in many municipalities if we can become better at drawing knowledge and insight from our own data and records. It will enable us to be more strategic, target areas where the need is greatest, and provide the support that is required,” says Tina Mejnert Pohle, Head of Health Visiting Services and Child Therapists in Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality.

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