Type of Project: Funded project Model project
RPV - Regional Prevention Center in the District of Viersen

In order to achieve the goals of RPV, the previous handling of complex health restrictions at the interface between the integration specialists in the job center and the medical service as well as the Federal Employment Agency is to be optimized. As a structural intervention, four health care coaches will be employed within the framework of the project, who are organizationally located at the job center, spatially assigned to the district health office and act in socio-spatial planning responsibility (innovative organizational structure, relationship-oriented orientation). These health care coaches develop individual activity plans together with the participants on the basis of the health restrictions identified in the medical report and accompany them in the first steps toward implementing the activities. Concrete steps adapted to the specific life situation are agreed upon, which are suitable for the compensation of the respective health restrictions (innovative services, behavioral orientation). This is the first time that a measure has been planned in the municipal setting of an area district, such as the district of Viersen, that is based on the concept of health capabilities, which is slowly spreading in the context of public health. The term health capability derived from Jennifer Prah Ruger is related to the capability approach developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. The focus on health capability identifies health as a basic ability for a good, dignified life and encompasses both societal conditions and individual resources and competencies for action. Therefore, this concept can be excellently applied to the relationship- and behavior-oriented focus of the project. The approach is dedicated to the question of how people can be comprehensively enabled to seize life opportunities and improve (their) quality of life. The term capabilities encompasses external conditions (e.g., access to community health care) as well as personal skills and competencies. Building on the CA, science defined a ranking of capabilities as minimum conditions of a "good life". Among them are the abilities, - to experience health (e.g. with regard to nutrition, housing), - to be able to avoid unnecessary pain and feel pleasure, - to be able to form bonds and relate to others, - to be able to live one's own life in one's own environment. This corresponds to an understanding of health that considers not only individual abilities but also societal-institutional conditions and strives for decision-making and action capabilities of individuals in the interaction of all. Health here is not understood as a (separate) ability, but as an increase in freedom in the (individual) conduct of life.