National Prevention Project „HEALTHY FOR 5!”
About this good practice
Collaboration agreement between the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and Ministry of Science, Education and Youth was signed to develop actions about addiction prevention and nature protection and landscaping. Together with partners in 21 counties: Administrative Departments for Environmental and Nature Protection, Police Administrations, Institutes of Public Health, Administrative Departments for Education, Culture and Science and Public Institutions for Management of Protected Natural Areas a series of activities have been carrying out from 2012 to present. Project is focused on the prevention of addiction and abuse of alcohol, drugs and games of chance, and the promotion of preventive action while developing socio-emotional skills in youths, raising the level of awareness of one's own role in preserving the living, school and work environment and raising the level of self-awareness of responsibility in preserving one's own and others' health and safety. The project is intended for students of the eighth grade of elementary school and first and second grades of secondary school. Basic project goal is actively changing harmful lifestyle habits about addiction,changing attitudes about the need to protect the environment and nature, improving the use of nature as preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative agents, increasing of the use and care of urban and peri-urban green areas to strengthen human health.
Resources needed
The multidisciplinary team composed of police prevention officers, doctors and psychologists, county public health institutes and representatives of environmental and nature protection are needed.
Costs include preparation of educational materials and travel expenses for trips for school children.
Evidence of success
School children willingly take part in education and their awareness of the impact of physical activity on human well-being is increasing.
In the period from 2012 to 2023, a total of 377,358 school children participated in the education. Of these, 15,360 participated in Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
Potential for learning or transfer
A large number of national and regional authorities with competences in the fields of human health and well-being join forces, mechanisms and resources, and take advantage of the synergistic effects resulting from their pooling. The signing of an agreement between them, setting out their interests and commitments, would be a first step for start working on the issue of preventing addiction among young people.
The fact that this good practice has worked for more than 12 years in Croatia, should serve to encourage other entities to replicate it.
Further information
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