D8: Child health in Sweden – 4 projects to improve equity and give all children the best start in life

Wednesday 22 June 2022 | 11:00-12:30

Format: Workshop
Stream: Population and Public Health

(Part A) Best possible start in life – learning from early, coordinated and family centered efforts

It all begins with the children! Promoting the best possible start for children and families takes a whole system approach. By having a family centered focus – health care, the local community, school, social services and many more need to work in new integrated ways.

Together, we will explore and learn from three regional efforts, all taking a wide system approach on health and care, with a strong focus on what matters to the children and families. Meet Västra Götaland County, Kronoberg County and Jönköping County.

Jesper Ekberg, The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and Region Jönköping County; Sweden

(Part B) Prescribed book reading – social investments enables development of new methods and cooperation

County Council of Gävleborg uses social investments to encourage development of new preventive methods and enhance collaboration between actors. The goal is to achieve better outcomes for the targeted group – and to reduce societal costs in the longer term.

One example of a social investment applied in health care in Gävleborg is the social investment ‘Prescribed book reading’. It involves a reading intervention, targeting pre-school children with speech, language and communication needs. In this presentation, we will describe social investments, Prescribed book reading, and the encouraging results from its evaluation, which has led to implementation in ordinary care.

Karin Myrberg, County Council of Gävleborg; Sweden

Emma Mårtensson, County Council of Gävleborg; Sweden

(Part C) Equality and quality – meeting the needs of children and professionals throughout society

Region Kronoberg, our eight municipalities, the Police and the idea-driven sector are co-creating an improved way of working with children and at the same time aiming to improve the way different services from the various public and private actors work, within different professions as well as with each other.

Support and help should be equal regardless of where the child is located, the nature of the childs needs or which parties are involved. Preventative and supportive measures are highlighted as well as reacting and acting quickly when problems arise and the need for structured cooperation when needed.

Erika Lagergren, Region Kronoberg; Sweden

(Part D) Session to be announced