This quarterly newsletter by the Healthy Living Environments (WP6) team in the JA PreventNCD was published in January 2026. If you want to receive the latest news from the team straight to your email inbox, you can register here.
Welcome to the first edition of the quarterly newsletter of the Healty Living Environments Work Package of the Joint Action PreventNCD
Baby-Friendly Community Health Services expanding all over Europe
Baby-Friendly Community Health Services (BFCHS) are expanding across Europe, bringing together local health services to better protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Based on WHO and UNICEF standards, these initiatives strengthen maternal and child health while reducing inequalities and long-term risk of non-communicable diseases.
First 1.000 days of life: a window of opportunities for future health
Baby-Friendly Community and Health Services are emerging as a key driver of better care for mothers and infants. By aligning community efforts with evidence-based clinical support, these models create a stronger ecosystem around early life. Their expansion shows how coordinated services can improve breastfeeding outcomes and strengthen public health.
Joint Designation of Baby-friendly Healthcare Centers in Castelló, Spain
Mª José Palomares & Enrique Jareño, paediatricians
In Castelló, Spain, 16 healthcare centers are working together to earn BFCHS, strengthening support for breastfeeding by sharing documentation, training and surveys. Know the details through the voices of the tutors guiding the process.
Handy Resources
Healthy Living Environments News
Psychiatric hospital in Finland goes smoke-free
In Finland, a psychiatric hospital has become the country’s first to go completely smoke‑free indoors, improving air quality and offering patients better support to reduce smoking
Healthier eating in schools and kindergartens
Schools and kindergartens in Croatia and Slovenia are piloting community‑based efforts to improve children’s diets and food environments by engaging families, staff and peers
Nature-Based Solutions for Healthy Urban Environments
Cities across Europe are piloting nature-based solutions to create healthier urban environments by integrating green spaces that support health, equity and sustainability.
Breastfeeding, most powerful shield in emergencies
Breastfeeding offers safe, accessible, immune-protective nourishment that save infants’ lives and reduce illness when access to services, clean water and food is disrupted.
Cantabria (Spain) Reminds: No Alcohol Sales to Minors
In Cantabria, local authorities are reinforcing the message that alcohol must not be sold to minors, backing campaigns and actions like to raise public awareness.
Piloting a new Digital Audit Tool on Playgrounds
A new digital playground audit tool that helps local stakeholders assess and improve the quality of playgrounds and schoolyards to boost physical activity, safety and inclusion.
Upcoming events
| Event | Date | Time | Location / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaping Food Environments through Front-of-Pack Labelling | 10 February 2026 | 10:00–11:30 CET | Online webinar |
| The first 1000-day window of opportunity | 13 February 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CET | Online webinar |
| Wellbeing Economy Forum 2026 | 16–17 April 2026 | — | Reykjavík (Iceland) |
| 10th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH) | 20–22 May 2026 | — | Milan (Italy) |
| European Public Health Conference 2026 | 10–13 November 2026 | — | Bilbao (Spain) |
Methodology Toolbox and concepts
Community Action for Health
A practical guide to help to create healthier and more equitable local environments
The RIMS Tool
Assessing Readiness for Integrated Municipal Health Promotion Strategies
Equity, Intersectoriality and Participation
Key concepts used to describe and understand Healthy Living Environments