Abstract

In the public health sector, complex health issues are increasingly addressed through comprehensive policies and close collaboration. Integrated working processes are therefore becoming ever more important, as various sectors and parties within and outside public health (such as the education sector, the private sector and parties involved in prevention, care provision, and spatial planning) have overlapping tasks and objectives. These concern focus areas like weight management and physical exercise, healthy participation in neighbourhoods, designing the human environment to promote health, and tackling health inequalities. People working in the field involved in setting up integrated policymaking or collaboration processes often wonder how they can obtain support, make effective policy choices, and work together with other sectors. In the past few years an increasing number of tools have become available that can be helpful in addressing these challenges. They include phased plans, methods, checklists, formats for collaboration, measuring tools, etc. However, these tools tend to remain underused because no clear overview is available. Together with its partners, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has therefore compiled a selection of available tools that support integrated working processes. Researchers, consultants, policy-makers and professionals can use the tools to generate knowledge on integrated working processes and to develop perspectives for action. RIVM has also drawn up recommendations for the implementation of the selected tools. The tools were selected and the recommendations prepared with involvement and input from people working in the field and from national organizations (particularly in the field of public health). At the national level, use of these tools can be promoted by publishing overviews on knowledge portals (such as www.Loketgezondleven.nl), providing training and support in their effective use, exchanging best practices at regional meetings, and setting up a platform to monitor the practical applicability of tools and to support their further development if necessary. This project was carried out in collaboration with various partners closely involved at the local and regional level (Pharos, Platform31, GGD GHOR NL, and CGL) and the nine study groups of the consortium 'Instruments for Integrated Action' (i4i).