Background
Public health evidence helps to define desired health goals and programmes, and advocacy for these goals and programmes is an important step in translating that evidence into policy and practice.

Advocacy for public health emerged as a central theme for second year participants in the Leadership for Building a Healthy Society programme of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH).

In late 2004, Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO) agreed to develop a web-based version of the public health advocacy toolkit that was developed by the leadership programme participants.

Aim

To support public health professionals by helping them develop their knowledge and skills in public health advocacy.

Progress report (updated February 2008)
In April 2005, the test website was developed and placed on the Observatory’s extranet, along with a comprehensive feedback form. Access was given to around 70 participants in the three leadership programmes.

In 2006, the Observatory negotiated with the new Public Health Alliance for the Island of Ireland (PHAII) that it would:

• manage, promote and use the website; 
• oversee its development as a resource for general as well as for specialist uses, eg education tool, organisational development;
• continue to host and provide technical web support.

After an evaluation involving a series of feedback events, the website was redeveloped and launched in Belfast in March 2007. Additional resources will be included on the website in early 2008.

Contact: Adam McCune