Collaboration between Public Health and Schools: An Example of an Integrated Community Social Care Model.

Abstract

Introduction: There is a need to improve public health interventions to promote youth social and emotional development in close collaboration with schools, families and local communities. A close intersectoral collaboration between the regional public health, schools and school boards was established to co-construct and implement "Positive Intervention (PI)" in the Eastern Townships region (Quebec, Canada). This paper describes its implementation according to the "Integrated Community Care (ICC)" framework.

Description: PI is a collaborative and personalized intervention leaning toward an integrated community social care model. In fact, PI relies on the close proximity between Public Health and their educational counterpart as well as their individual temporality. However, PI offered mainly social services and its relationships with Primary Care services was not yet a priority.

Discussion: The results show that it is possible to develop and implement an intervention promoting positive mental health in children, with and for local organisations. The level of integration between schools and Public Health services achieved after only 6 months of implementation is encouraging.

Conclusion: More research is needed to thoroughly document the implementation, social validity, and effects of such an intervention by taking in the point of view of all stakeholders.