title: Counties selecting public health priorities--a "bottom-up" approach (Croatian experience).
abstract: The subject of this paper is how to incorporate a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectored approach into development of public health policy and plans at the local (county) level in Croatia by educational program. Method used was the public health capacity building program "Health--Plan for it", which was developed with the aim to assist the counties to overcome recognized weaknesses and introduce more effective and efficient local public health practices. Two main instruments were used: Local Public Health Practice Performance Measures Instrument, and Basic Priority Rating System. This program has helped counties to asses population health needs in a participatory manner, to plan for health and, ultimately, assure provision of the right kind and quality of services (better tailored to population health needs). This program's benefits are going beyond and above the county level. It provides support for the Healthy Cities project locally, and facilitates changes in national policymaking body's mindset that a "one-size-fits-all" approach is sufficient.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health Andrija Stampar, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia. ssogoric@snz.hr
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sogorić
authors.forename: Tea Vukusić
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Rukavina
authors.forename: Ognjen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brborović
authors.forename: Andro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlahugić
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zganec
authors.forename: Stjepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oresković
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health; D011787:Quality of Health Care