The purpose of the Quality Recommendation for Health Promotion is to structure the extensive field of health promotion and to support the local authorities' own quality management work. The goal is that promotion of the population's wellbeing and health will be made a priority area in all municipal activity. Therefore it is necessary to assess the
structures of health promotion, develop management, allocate resources to preventive work, reinforce the skills and competences in the area of wellbeing, and to monitor and assess the work on a regular basis.

The Quality Recommendation is meant as a tool to be used in both health care and other administrative sectors in local government, and by decision-makers and staff. There are recommendations for the management of health promotion, planning and realisation of the work, co-operation and division of labour, as well as assessment of the health promotion
work and of skills and competencies.

The Quality Recommendation is based on the ideology of the EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) Excellence Model commonly used in quality management work. The recommendation applies as the framework the classification of health promotion strategies used in the Ottawa Charter of 1986.

In the Quality Recommendation health promotion as a task for local authorities is structured in six strategic lines, each of which contains 4 - 8
recommendations. The recommendations are based on the existing evidence
and experience of best practices. The strategic lines are:

1. Health promotion policy and management
2. Health promotive living environments
3. Health promotive co-operation and inclusion
4. Health promotion skills and competences
5. Health promotive services
6. Monitoring and assessment of health promotion

The Annexes (only in Finnish) to the Quality Recommendation include examples of the components of health promotion: nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and drug use, injury prevention, oral health, prevention of communicable diseases, promotion of sexual health, and promotion of the health of different age groups. All these have a significant impact
on the health of municipal residents.

The purpose of the recommendations is to help local authorities and joint municipal boards in developing efficient practices, and in planning and assessment of the work. The recommendations serve as a basis for the planning and assessment the municipal leadership is in charge of. Indicators that will describe better the practical operations are needed for health promotion at operational level.

Quality Recommendation for Health Promotion. Helsinki 2009. 30 pp.
Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2009:8
ISBN 978-952-00-2802-2 (pb)
ISBN 978-952-00-2803-9 (PDF)
ISSN 1236-2050 (print)
ISSN 1797-9854 (online)