Grant schemes as enablers of local action: the example of the Nutrition Fund

health promotion;public policy

Craig, Kirsty Ann ; Fougere, Geoff ; Thomson, George

University of Otago

关键词: health promotion;    public policy;   

Others  :  https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/10523/1699/1/CraigKirstyA2010MPH.pdf.pdf

美国|英语

来源: Otago University Research Archive

【 摘 要 】

Poor nutrition and unhealthy weight are major contributors to disease burden in New Zealand. As part of wider government action to address these issues, District Health Boards were funded to administer Nutrition Fund grants to schools and early childhood education services. This thesis examines the implementation of the Nutrition Fund between January 2007 and June 2009 in order to understand the processes that were used, whether government direction was followed, and what benefits projects delivered. The data sources for the research were largely qualitative. Thematic analysis of interview material with staff from three District Health Boards, and nine schools and early childhood education services provided the main focus for the thesis. In addition, key Ministry of Health and District Health Board documents were examined, and a descriptive statistical analysis was completed using national grant data. The findings of the research show that the Nutrition Fund was implemented within the guidelines provided by central government, and was able to deliver a variety of successful projects in schools and early childhood education services. This was possible due to the development of an effective, multi-layered co-ordination network that was constructed using both formal and informal mechanisms. In this network, District Health Board staff mediated between central government and local communities to construct Nutrition Fund projects that met local needs as well as government requirements. The research is located within the literatures on health promotion, policy implementation, and evaluation. It contributes to understandings of the processes involved in policy implementation, and illustrates the potential for central government to catalyse local level action through grant schemes. The research supports health promotion in education settings. Further resource investment and curriculum development is recommended in order to maximise this potential.