A setting is where people actively use and shape the environment, and is therefore where people create or solve problems relating to health. Settings can normally be identified as having physical boundaries, a range of people with defined roles, and an organizational structure. Examples of settings include homes, schools, work sites, hospitals, markets, prisons, communities, villages, cities and islands.

Particularly vulnerable to health challenges and risks brought about by unsafe environments are children and adolescents. To ensure we provide a healthier future for them, we can invest in schools as ‘incubators’ for health, which can influence and inspire children and adolescents to be healthier adults and achieve their highest capability and potential.