The new Healthy Start program

The best start for new generations is the mission of the new “Healthy Start” initiative. This collaboration between science and practice focuses on increasing opportunities for young people aged 1 to 21, regardless of background and starting position. Healthy Start is a unique partnership between Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), Erasmus MC, and Delft University of Technology, with partners from the field and the Rotterdam region as a testing ground. This collaborative approach, involving medical, technical, and social scientists, societal partners, and young people themselves, is developing innovative solutions and measures that directly impact the child, the city, and society. Healthy Start emerged from the convergence collaboration between Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, and Delft University of Technology. The celebratory launch took place on November 9th, with an inspiring gathering of science and practice, in the spirit of the initiative.

Inspiration from young scientists

During the conference on November 9th, many young scientists, in particular, presented inspiring ideas on how to give the new generation of Rotterdammers the best start. Initiator Eveline Crone (EUR): “The foundation of Healthy Start is that scientists collaborate with child and youth workers and young people themselves. The best ideas often come from young researchers, who are hands-on. Ideas like a Golden Hub where ongoing projects converge, a dedicated team that actively bridges the gap between science and practice, and a prize for young people who come up with a new idea (citizen science) are something we will be working on together in the coming period. It should become a true Healthy Start movement.”

The directors of the participating scientific institutions were also enthusiastic: “Healthy Start does exactly what convergence is intended for: putting the best scientists to work on the major societal challenges of our time. Creating as many equal opportunities as possible for children and young people is one of these issues,” said EUR President Prof. Ed Brinksma. He and Rector/President of Delft University of Technology, Prof. Tim van der Hagen, accepted the detailed Healthy Start proposal during the conference.

The conference in a nutshell

Prof. Loes Keijsers (EUR) discussed her research on parenting and growing up in 2021. She addressed the question of why it is difficult to design preventive parenting programs. Many research methods pay insufficient attention to the individual. As a result, they only have a positive effect on a limited group. “Experience Sampling Methods are helpful in this regard, such as the ‘Grow-it App,’ which helps reduce feelings of depression in young people. The support and collaboration with Delft University of Technology is crucial in this regard,” Keijsers stated.

Prof. Maaike Kleinsmann (Delft University of Technology) discussed the STAMINA project, which seeks a solution for overly concerned parents of children with congenital heart defects. This was her reason for participating in Healthy Start. By collaborating with researchers from various disciplines, companies, and families, she is working on a ‘wicked problem.’ “By taking one thread at a time and pulling on it, we can solve the problem in phases,” Kleinsmann stated.

Prof. Eric Steegers (Erasmus MC) spoke about the importance of preconception health for expectant parents. To ensure that every Rotterdam resident has a good start in the first 1,000 days of their life, he initiated a collaboration with the municipality, which ultimately led to the national “Promising Start” program. Steegers: “Our research showed that the risk of premature birth or low birth weight was higher in disadvantaged neighborhoods than in other neighborhoods. That shouldn’t be happening. We saw the importance of connecting the medical and social domains. If you see something like that as a researcher, you have to be activist and create a sense of urgency in politicians.”

Ernest van der Kwast, author and “Rotterdamse Douwer” (Rotterdam Douwer), presented a practical story and linked it to the important initiatives of the municipality of Rotterdam for a better future for young people. Van der Kwast was connected to Abdi through the Rotterdamse Douwers foundation. This foundation was established five years ago and connects Rotterdam residents with at-risk young people who are struggling with major problems, such as debt or addiction.

Healthy Start and the Convergence

Healthy Start is an initiative of Prof. Dr. Eveline Crone (EUR), Prof. Dr. Vincent Jaddoe (Erasmus MC), and Prof. Dr. Maaike Kleinsmann (TUD) and is part of the Convergence. Within the Convergence, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus MC, and EUR join forces and look beyond the boundaries of institutions and disciplines to develop new perspectives and solutions for the urgent and complex societal issues of our time.

Watch the video below.