Partnership and Social Capital as the Resources for Pupils` Health and Well-Being in School Communities - A Follow-Up Study in Finland

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate comprehensive (classes 1-9) school teachers' views of the functionality of the social support networks in promoting pupils' health and well-being in school communities. This study belongs to the European Network of Health Promoting Schools programme (ENHPS) evaluation project in Finland. In this study partnership and the social support networks between home and school, school nurse and school community and school community and various other networks are a part of social capital that promote pupils' health and well-being. The survey data were collected from teachers (N = 22) by the means of web-based questionnaires in the spring terms in a four-year follow-up design. The teachers felt that the social support network and partnership between school and parents and school nurses was significant in promoting the health and well-being of pupils. However, parents and school nurses didn't always have opportunities to participate in the planning and evaluation of teaching and health promotion work in the schools. In the future, partnership will represent a potential way in which schools might build additional capacities and support for promoting pupils' health and well-being. Furthermore, social capital is not separate from other capital structures, such as cultural and economic capital, which are all needed.