FOOD HEALTH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY National Centre for Food, Health and Physical Activity
National Centre for Food, Health and Physical Activity The National Centre for food, health and physical activity is a newly-established resource centre created as a result of a cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Health and Care Services. The Centre will help ensure that national education and health policies are initiated and implemented so that all children and adolescents receive equal access to childcare, including to individually adapted, high-quality education in an inclusive environment. The Centre has a nationwide function and will work holistically and across disciplines in order to promote good health among children and adolescents in Norway. Through its work, the Centre will promote and communicate the importance of good nutrition and regular physical activity for children and adolescents health and learning. The goal is to reinforce the role of kindergarten and school as health-promoting, preventive and inclusive environments, and to help reduce social inequalities. Through its work, the centre will promote and communicate the importance of good nutrition and regular physical activity for children and adolescents health and learning. What will the Centre do? The Centre will be a resource for the curricular subjects of food and health, and physical education in primary, secondary and upper secondary education The Centre will help highlight how nutrition and physical activity can be naturally integrated across disciplines The Centre will contribute to help all children and adolescents to experience the joy of food and motion through kindergartens, schools and after school programs The Centre will disseminate knowledge of adaptive measures for children and adolescents with chronic illnesses and disabilities within the framework of an inclusive society The Centre will create a good psychosocial environment, which enables individuals to participate and experience belonging and mastery The Centre will undertake web-based dissemination, counselling and guidance work, based on research, studies and developmental work, with examples in good practice
Target groups Authorities/owners/managers/personnel in Kindergarten Primary school, and after school program Secondary school Upper secondary school The public health centre service Universities and University Colleges providing associated educational content User-oriented approach The Centre s target groups know what needs for resources exist in the various arenas towards which the Centre focuses its work. You are the ones who know where the shoe pinches. Hence, user-participation is central to the Centre s work, and for us it is crucial that our target groups express their needs and provide the Centre with input. In this way we can also best develop our web-based resources for you. Bridging The Centre s work shall include bridging the gap between the health sector and the kindergarten and school sector. The Centre will promote good methods through which kindergartens, schools, the public health centre service and the school health service can enhance the role of kindergartens and schools as healthy and inclusive venues. The Centre s web site On our web site we will continually publish content relevant to the Centre s various target groups. This will include practical and educational resources designed for the target groups, guidelines and recommendations, network and organisations, and research and developmental work. The educational resources posted here will be in line with competency objectives in the curriculum, curriculum for kindergartens and national guidelines and recommendations for physical activity and nutrition. Visit our web site: mhfa.no
The Centre s staff The Centre is staffed by five individuals with wide-ranging expertise and experience in the areas of food, health and physical activity. Gudbjørg Øen DIRECTOR Background: Professor in Health and Education. Master of health psychology and Prevention. Nurse, special trained in pediatrics, psychiatry, and public health. Experience from specialist- and primary health care, high school, and University College. Research field: childhood obesity. Author and editor. +47 55 58 58 82 gudbjorg.oen@mhfa.no Ingrid Leversen Background: PhD and Master of health psychology and health promotion, University of Bergen. Trained nurse. Many years experience within research and project related work towards health behaviour, psychosocial environment, motivation, well-being and health, leisure activities, social inequalities among children and adolescents. +47 55 58 75 33 ingrid.leversen@mhfa.no Henning Klafstad Background: Master of Arts in Interactive Multimedia from Bath University College. 20 years experience within multimedia production, project development, and management of Centre for new Media, Bergen University College. +47 55 58 59 20 henning.klafstad@mhfa.no Caroline Angeltvedt Johannesen Background: Trained teacher with emphasis on special pedagogics. Master in Sports science, physical education and outdoor activities. Ten years experience as teacher in secondary school, with main emphasis on physical education. +47 55 58 57 53 caroline.angeltvedt.johannesen@mhfa.no Mari Helene Kårstad Background: Master in clinical dietitian, undergraduate psychology, and special training in meal knowledge. Experience from specialized health services (children, adolescents and adults), and from research and developmental work related to nutrition. +47 55 58 58 21 mari.helene.karstad@mhfa.no
National Centre for Food, Health and Physical Activity CONTACT US +47 55 58 75 33 post@mhfa.no The National Centre for Food, Health and Physical Activity is located at Bergen University College. MAILING ADDRESS Høgskolen i Bergen Postboks 7030, 5020 BERGEN mhfa.no