Background and target groups
Article
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In 2023 the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) launched the new Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion Service. The department is a national center for the health promoting and preventive services in maternity care, for children, adolescents and their families in Norway.
The services are required by law, and offer a broad range of health promotion and preventive measures, e.g. prenatal check-ups, administrating the childhood vaccination program, well child check ups, school health services and youth health clinics.
Background for the establishment of a new department
The national centre for the maternity and child health clinics, school health services, and youth health clinics was funded by the Norwegian government to strenghten expertise, professional development and research for these services. The center is anchored in NIPH an located in Levanger.
The goal of the center is to produce research for evidence-based health promotion and preventive services in maternity care, for children, adolescents, and their parents. Another goal is to support the municipalities in adopting the best available knowledge in professional and service development. Evaluation of interventions and working strategies in the Norwegian child and adolescent health promotion services, are also central to the departments work.
Target groups
The competence center primarily targets the municipalities, maternity care staff, personell in child and youth health centres and school health services, other health and welfare services, as well as schools and kindergartens. The secendary target groups include pregnant people, childrens, adolescents, their guardians and families.
