November 2017, we developed the Lifelong Health Blueprint to help stakeholders develop .... By teaching directly in scho
Lifelong Health Blueprint - Guidelines “Learning from the best: driving healthy living initiatives worldwide” 1. CONTEXT As a companion to our white paper “WE100 Healthy Years – Are Kids Prepared?” published in November 2017, we developed the Lifelong Health Blueprint to help stakeholders develop successful initiatives that seek to empower children to live 100 healthy years. We have developed the guidelines below to serve as a rubric for both stakeholders to use to inform programmes and for “WE100 Healthy Years” representatives to use in evaluating best practice submissions. 2. GUIDELINES Best practice healthy living programmes look broadly at all the ways people, especially children, develop and sustain healthy habits across the lifespan. To understand how these programmes positively impact individual lives and community outcomes, we recommend evaluating them across several dimensions, as outlined below. General programme elements What is the name of the programme? GEN100 Is it clear which organization or entity manages and administers the programme? Yes, it is managed by Merck Consumer Health in South Africa. How long has the programme been in operation? It has been operating since May 2017 Does the programme communicate a clear mission statement or theory of change? The programme has the aim of raising awareness and educating as well as motivating children about the importance of healthy lifestyles. The program is piloted in 40 schools where its ability to achieve behaviour change within the community is measured. Does the programme identify clear resources (staff, funding, materials, etc.) deployed in service of the mission? Merck Consumer Health developed the healthy choices curriculum, which has been rolled out via an approved third party and teachers, to the 40 schools taking part in the initiative. The resources included: a curriculum for the teachers, train the trainer for the teachers to be able to implement the program, and further visual assets as support. Alignment with “Lifelong Health Blueprint” 1. Understand the components determining healthy life expectancy at all stages and how they 1
interrelate. Does the programme communicate a holistic or multi-dimensional perspective in its design? The programme aims to educate children on the importance of forming healthy habits early on, developing the foundations for them to live 100 healthy years. More generally, it aims to educate children on the importance of health since currently 71% of children in South Africa score low on general nutritional knowledge. The knowledge gained by the children can then be shared further within the community, for example with siblings or parents, helping to improve overall good health. How many of the healthy living determinates below does the programme explicitly address? • Social: being able to build supportive, lasting and meaningful relationships based on interdependence, trust, and respect • Emotional: being able to successfully expresses and manage an entire range of feelings, and enjoying life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations In order to support the children on their healthy living journey we have developed materials such as a motivational video. The video highlights a dance and a song to encourage children to make healthy choices. • Environmental: feeling safe in your community, enjoying interaction with nature and wanting to live in harmony with the earth • Cultural: being aware of your cultural background, and able to appreciate the richness and diversity of other cultural backgrounds 2. Empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to form healthy habits for life. Does the stated objective of the programme align with one of the aims below? • Raise awareness for healthy living topics and tools at an early age Yes – the program specifically aims to educate children in primary and secondary schools Through the 21 day challenge, children/teenagers are asked to take on a new task each day which encourages them to be healthier. The video accompanying the GEN100 song also encourages children to dance and be active whilst listening to the song, encouraging physical activity. • Change attitudes about healthy living topics: both with adults who can pass on the knowledge to children, but also directly with children for example in school Yes – as the program teaches children in school, the teachers who are educating them also learn and can pass on the knowledge to others around them. The program also motivates children to adopt healthy behaviours (e.g. “My Life, my choice” video), via the 21 day challenge. • Change behaviours or help people form healthy habits from an early age, in order to create lasting habits for lifelong health Yes – as specified above. In addition, the tools include a 21-Day Challenge aimed at changing long-term behaviours. How does the programme seek to achieve that objective? Does it state a clear methodology? The children are taught 8 one-hour lessons either once a week or once a month. This methodology has been inspired by teachers from primary schools and high schools. Does the programme outline a ladder of engagement or mix of tactics to take people/children on a learning and development journey over time? 2
The program has an educator guidebook for the teachers, with clear steps and lessons to teach as they go along as well as a learning booklet for children including exercises. The materials are adapted to the children’s age. The overall toolkit supplied to the schools also includes the 21-Day challenge and its supporting tracker for children to track their progress in school to help them develop healthy habits. The program also includes motivational material for children to take control of their health (“My life, my choice”). Does the programme encourage and support a grassroots approach? Is it clear how individuals can contribute to healthy outcomes no matter what role they play within the programme or community? The programme focuses on educating children. While this can impact the community at large, at this stage it is being applied in 40 pilot schools –empowering children and teenagers in schools to encourage their families and community to adopt healthy living habits. 3. Take a systems approach by enabling cross-sector collaborations for a holistic view towards the child’s development. Does the programme communicate an understanding of the way children’s development is informed by different environments, such as home, school and community? How so? How many of the environments listed below does the programme seek to impact? • Home • School • Community Community can be an indirect impact of the program but is not a primary target Does the programme engage partners and other organizations to help implement aspects of the programme strategy? The GEN100 program has been received with much enthusiasm by learners, teachers and principals who are happy to roll it out. If so, does the partner mix illustrate a cross-sector approach? How so? The program involves the private sector (Merck Consumer Health), working together with schools (teachers and principals) and involving the children themselves. 4. Communicate about impact and learnings that contribute to the embodiment of lifelong health within society. To what extent does the programme enable the following: • Demonstration of collective action and collaborative efforts By teaching directly in school, the programme encourages collective action for all pupils of a class, or of the school as a whole. • Celebration of key milestones and achievements The children were encouraged to take on the 21 day challenge and to report about the results. • Sharing failures and lessons learned for the benefit of collective learning 3
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Not at this stage Taking a lean-start-up approach to pilot new approaches and optimize the programme as it learns The impact of the program in schools has been assessed with regards to the change in behaviours and serves to improve the program’s impact
Does the programme communicate impact results? If so, how? The program encourages children to share back their individual results when taking the 21 day challenge. Does the programme communicate with partners and stakeholders regularly? If so, how? (check all that apply) • Social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) Via the WE100 Facebook page, GEN100 efforts are regularly communicated about. There is an ongoing effort to educate and communicate about the importance of healthy habits. Children and teenagers are encouraged to take control of their own health. The Facebook page also allows us to share challenges and other successful initiatives to encourage children and teenagers to take care of their health. • • •
Email newsletter Community events Annual programme report
Demonstration of best practice tactics To what extent does the programme employ the tactics identified below? Please rate each tactic on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating little or no evidence and 5 indicating strong evidence the programme is utilizing the tactic. •
Equip and inspire children by talking with them, not at them - 5 o For example, encourages parents, teachers and community members to start a dialogue by asking children open ended questions about healthy living topics, such as why they think it is important to be active or eat vegetables.
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Motivate children by focusing on their positive actions, rather than any challenges - 5 o For example, equips parents, teachers and community members to regularly celebrate healthy living milestones with words of encouragement, and support to navigate healthy habits that may be more difficult to master.
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Encourage children to play a central, active role as co-creator of the program. - 4 o For example, allow children to input into the education process directly: to share their interests, self-identify their knowledge gaps, define what would help them lead a healthier life. Or build peer learning groups in which children can collectively share knowledge and educate each other.
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Design interventions around the habit loop (a cue, a routine, and a reward) - 5 o For example, helps parents, teachers and community members understand that the real reward children get from healthy habits (a long, healthy life) and to seek rewards that reinforce health, such as a family activity or an extra story at bedtime.
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Take things one step at a time, allowing for each incremental change to take root - 4 o For example, equips parents, teachers and community members to help children learn resilience by sticking with a new activity or habit, even when it is unfamiliar or hard, to both establish lifelong habits and inspire pride in accomplishment.
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Think expansively about partners – the ‘unusual’ suspects often are the most powerful - 3 o For example, encourages parents, teachers and community members to identify new and diverse people who can reinforce healthy living messages and help children expedience other perspectives and approaches to healthy living.
Confirmation of accreditation Is the programme’s parent organization a verified and accredited charity, community organization or non-profit? The programme was created by Merck Consumer Health, and has been reviewed and endorsed by teachers and principals. If so, please list the tax ID or proof of accreditation and the country and body of issuance. Has the organization been rated or audited by a third party agency or group? Gen100 has not been audited by a third party agency or group. ###
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