Finding the common ground: where health and educational agendas meet--the School Health Incentive Program (SHIP) grants scheme.
OBJECTIVE
This paper investigates a school health promotion grants scheme as a strategy for increasing opportunities and support for schools to undertake a whole-school approach to health issues of their choice.


METHODS
The School Health Incentive Program (SHIP) is an ongoing initiative offering annual grants and tailored support from health and education professionals. SHIP commenced in 2000 in the former South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (SESAHS), New South Wales. It is a partnership between the Health Promotion Service (HPS), the three education sectors, parent groups, other health services and The Cancer Council NSW.


RESULTS
Over the period 2000-04 SHIP awarded 103 grants to 71 schools from SESAHS, representing about 32,000 students. Average grant funding per student reached was $2.50. Schools used the Health Promoting Schools framework to plan and implement their health activities. Results included positive outcomes in the areas of curriculum planning, policy and procedure development, changes to physical and social environments and the development of partnerships between the school and the health sector, other organisations, parents and other schools.


CONCLUSIONS
SHIP developed partnerships between health, education sectors and schools, encouraged schools to adopt a whole-school approach to health issues, and supported the development of subsequent health-focused initiatives.
Cass
Yona
Y
Health Promotion Service, South Eastern Sydney and Illlawarra Area Health Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales. cassy@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Price
Polly
P
Rimes
Tania
T
D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009517:New South Wales; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014146:Training Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*