What is Healthy Respect?
Healthy Respect was a national health demonstration project, hosted by NHS Lothian. Healthy Respect was one of four projects outlined in the Government's White paper 'Towards a Healthier Scotland' (1999). It was set up to look at ways of supporting young people to make positive choices about their sexual health and wellbeing.
The project began in 2001 and continued until 2004 (Phase One). Following an interim year for planning (2004), a further three years' funding was provided, taking the demonstration work up to March 2008 (Phase Two). Today, Healthy Respect Lothian is a partnership network co-ordinated by NHS Lothian. Appropriate elements of work and practice are available for integration both locally and nationally.
Through partnership, Healthy Respect aims to create an environment that will lead to long-term improvements in the sexual health and wellbeing of young people using an evidence-informed approach that integrates information, education and services. Healthy Respect consists of three different, but connected, components:
Healthy Respect Demonstration Project (2001 - 2008): Completed project designed to test evidence-informed and innovative approaches to improving the sexual health and wellbeing of
young people using an integrated approach.
Healthy Respect Lothian (from 2008): Network co-ordinated by NHS Lothian to support sexual health information, education and services for young people.
Healthy Respect Dissemination Programme (2008 - 2010): Ongoing sharing of implementation experience and independent evaluation from the Demonstration Project.
Dissemination of Learning
Funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by NHS Health Scotland, the Healthy Respect Dissemination Programme works alongside Health Scotland's WISH Network to share implementation experiences alongside independent evaluation reports from Phase Two of demonstration. The Dissemination Programme's target groups are:
· Professionals and partnerships working at a local level to support the development of sexual health services, education and information
· Professionals and partnerships working at a national level to support the implementation of national policy.
As well as sharing learning from the Healthy Respect Demonstration Project, the programme shares learning and practical experiences from other parts of Scotland. For further information, contact Moray Paterson, Healthy Respect Dissemination Programme Leader. Email: moray.paterson@health.scot.nhs.uk
Link to Healthy Respect website.