Capacity building in and for health promoting schools: results from a qualitative study

Research has shown that schools have problems reaching the aim of becoming health promoting for many different reasons and that capacity building in and for schools is needed to develop necessary resources. We use the concept of capacity building as an analytical tool to answer the question of how the implementation of health promotion (HP) in schools can be supported.

As part of a wider qualitative study concerning capacity building in the Austrian school system 11 school heads were interviewed about their needs regarding the success of HP in schools. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis.

Schools can build several capacities themselves and are well informed about the requirements for implementing HP. The most important resource is institutionalisation of HP, which is not easy to reach. Concerning their environment, schools display a need for financial and human resources for HP, as well as knowledge management and quality control of HP service providers.

Schools need support from their environment not only in building resources but also in taking the important step of institutionalising HP into their core and management processes. A concept of implementation, drawing attention to necessary but unforeseen capacities and resources, is needed.