HEPROGRESS will establish expert groups on health inequalities in both Østfold and Vidzeme / Latvia. Read more about the groups below:

• The expert group on social inequalities in health, Østfold/Norway
• The expert group on social inequalities in health, Vidzeme/Latvia).

Mandate and guidelines for the expert group on social inequalities in health in Østfold

1. Provide professional advice and contribute to the formulation of policy at the local and regional level in Østfold in order to remedy social inequalities in health
2. Be a stage where the county’s public health workers can raise issues for discussion/advice.
3. Contribute to realizing Heprogress’s targets in the 01.12. 2010 – 01.12. 2012 project period.

Proposed guidelines for the expert group:

A.  Provide professional advice and contribute to the formulation of policy at the local and regional level in Østfold in order to remedy social inequalities in health

1. Be a watchdog toward policy formulation – and policy follow-up – at the local and regional level in Østfold.
2. Participate actively in debates in Østfold, hereunder contribute to putting the issue on the media’s agenda

B. Be a stage where the county’s public health workers can raise issues for discussion/advice.

3. Will provide advice to important municipal and regional plans.

C. Contribute to realizing Heprogress’s targets in the 01.12. 2010 – 01.12. 2012 project period.

4. Will in the Heprogress project period contribute toward realizing the project’s targets.
5. Will in the Heprogress project period be a reference group for the project manager.
6. Can as a part of Heprogress contribute to interpret and communicate results from the population survey.

Support
The expert group is headed by Østfold University College and is a part of the university college’s strategy.

The members of the expert group (to be expanded)

1. Geir Tufte (chairman), Associate Professor.        public policy and management
2. Anett Arntzen, professor at Vestfold University College        sociology and epidemiology
3. Kaare T. Pettersen, R&D coordinator at Østfold University College    children and young people, violence researcher
4. Trond Langvik, Østfoldforskning working life, innovation and
restructuring in the public sector

The expert group will be composed such that it maintains a broad range of expertise.

Secretary: Østfold county municipality, public health section

Observers, with right to speak and present proposals:
1. Svein Rønsen, assisting county physician County Governor of Østfold
2. Knut-Johan Rognlien, public health director, Østfold county municipality
3. Siv Jacobsen. Moss municipality – Labour party politician and head of the public health committee
4. Lasse Michalsen, NAV
5. Monica Gåsvatn, Østfold county municipality – Progress Party

The observer team must be composed of persons from different administrative levels in Østfold. The observer team must include expertise that allows the expert group to make free and independent assessments, based on good administrative practice.