Community involvement towards community objectives

The World Health Organisation "Health for all children by the year 2000" declaration presents an exciting yet timely challenge. If these aims are to be achieved, the role of the health worker must be broadened. There must be a recognition that families will determine the true health of their children--physical, mental and social. Families must be able to identify and realise their aspirations, to satisfy their needs and to cope with and adapt to their environments. Only by advocacy, by forming a partnership with families, and by empowering families to exercise greater control over their health and their environment, will health workers begin to see positive change in the community. There is a need to collect and collate data from the community in order that the true needs of families are met. New outcome measures which address "quality of life" must be developed; these will accord closely with the WHO aims, and will enable communities to set the high standards that must be achieved for our children. "Health", interpreted in its broadest meaning, should lead to health professionals concentrating on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the attainment of "quality of life". There must be a move away from the "medical model" of care to the empowerment of parents who are responsible for the care for their children and the need to work towards better community resources.