I'm partly responding to Liz's recent request re: health promotion practice
guidelines, and also partly advancing the request a bit.

Liz - you should check out , "The Use of Social Science Theory to Develop
Health Promotion Programs"  (or something like that) written by Brian
Hyndman et al from the Centre for Health Promotion.  Its distributed now
through Participaction (I think).   Its a few years old now - but I think
you might find it helpful.  It is an analysis of major social science
theories - using heart health programs and low birth weight prevention
programs as examples.   Its one of the very few documents I"ve seen that
drawas out so clearly applications from theory to practice.  I've never
called it, "best practice guidelines" - but when I thought about your
request, this is the thing that came to mind - at least if the issues you
are dealing with are heart disease prevention or low birth weight.

The other things to consider are documents that speak of "health promotion
principles".  When we're talking about health promotion - we could be
talking about so many different things -- it kind of depends on how specific
your focus is.  If you are looking for written guidelines that apply to a
broad  variety of initiatives, it might be guiding principles you are really
after.  One recent place to look for this I'd say (in addition to the Centre
for Health Promotion contacts you already have been given), is the recent
documents from the Canadian Public Health Association - prepared as a review
of progress since the Ottawa Charter. (Sorry, I have all these things at my
office, but I'm at home now and I can't recall exact titles.  If this isn't
enough to go on, then email me back and I'll track down more specifics for
you.  We also have a set of principles which guide our health promotion
practice at our health department, and if thats useful, let me know.)

Finally I'd like to suggest to you the Issues in Health Promotion Series -
especially #3 "Health Promotion and Empowerment: Practice Frameworks"
written by Ron Labonte in association with the Centre for Health Promotion
(also distributed through Participaction I believe.)  This document is
helpful I find in clarifying what approach or paradigm is guiding the
practitioner on any given project.  Its not "best practice" guidelines in
itself - but I find it helps one to frame one's work - in order to then seek
out the relevant literature and best practice guidelines for that particular
project.


Anyway - the reason I posted to the list, is that I'm looking for something
along this line too. I'm looking for the kind of analysis that I refered to
above (application of theory to practice stuff) but with respect to child
and family support programs.  I know a lot of work on best practice re: post
partum home visiting for example has been done, and I've got this.  But I'm
looking for that kind of literature consolidation as it relates to things
like:  mom/tot programs, toy lending libraries,  neighbourhood outreach,
training in living skills etc.  I'm checking out the Better Beginnings stuff
- but so far I haven't seen anything all pulled together.

This is the piece that the Ministry of Community Services in Ontario (I'm
sorry for the local reference, but it might clarify the request for those
who know it.) is calling "investment supports"  or "early intervention and
prevention supports" in their "hot off the press" process for re-shaping
children's services.  As a participant in that process locally, I'm wanting
to bring "best practice" info to the table.

If you can't think of anything (especially you big budget university linked
types -- ha ha, just kidding ! After all, humour builds disease resistance I
hear.) then maybe you want to create it - every community in Ontario is
going to need it to do this planning.  If anyone decides to do this, and
wants some practitioner involvement (mediocre and unpolished though it may
be)- count me in!


Theresa Schumilas
Director Family and Community Resources
Region of Waterloo Community Health Department

phone: 519  883 2254 (I'm never there, so PLEASE leave a message.)
fax:   519  883 2241
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