Better schools through health: learning from practice

egan in 2005; since 2009 the work of kindergarten coordinators has also beenfunded.All counties have a network coordinator. Most health promoters are supported by schoolcoordinators and the network of kindergarten coordinators is being supplemented.School health board advise to institutions is voluntary and provided free of charge.Methodological materials related to health promotion and the work of school healthboards have been developed and are available to anyone interested.ResearchIn 2008, school coordinators conducted an assessment of school health board activitiesin health promoting schools, which is being used as a basis on which to plan futurecounselling and training.The key findings of the assessment include:•• the local networks show different levels of activity in different areas•• both health promoters as well as coordinators are needed in order for anetwork to function well•• the personality of the coordinator has an important role in empowering thenetwork. It is very difficult to keep the network working if the key personchanges•• as networks operate differently, it is necessary to provide individual adviceand supervision to coordinators as well as representatives of local networksby NIHD•• project based financing of the work of coordinators is not sustainable•• cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research has been weak.However, it is crucial in order to sustain the effectiveness of the work.Conclusions and discussionProject assessment feedback reveals that kindergartens and schools have benefitedfrom advice resulting in a steady flow of institutions joining the Estonian networkof health promoting kindergartens and schools, although there have been regionaldifferences depending on the operational activeness of coordinators.Due to trainings and summer schools, ties and cooperation between networks indifferent regions have grown stronger.Health promotion in kindergartens and schools is increasingly being valued and is26