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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Valerie Rogers, Environmental Health, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th St NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, 202-783-5550, vrogers@naccho.org and Candace Rutt, PhD, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS/K-46, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717.

The World Health Organization defines Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as, "A combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population." HIAs are being implemented at a growing rate throughout Europe and Australia as a way to effectively gauge the health impacts of land use planning/community design and policy decisions, on health issues ranging from physical activity to air pollution. In the United States, HIA interest and use is growing as public health practitioners are beginning to utilize health impact assessments, often, in conjunction with planners. Such collaborations are taking place in Ingham County, Michigan and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As research around the connection between the built environmental and public health grows, local public health officials are taking a greater interest in land use planning decisions and thus, a greater interest in tools such as health impact assessments in order to proactively influence health outcomes related to the built environment. This session will focus on the connection between environmental public health and land use planning/community design by providing an overview of health impact assessment, and highlighting the successful use of HIA in the US.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participant's will be able to

1. Articulate what HIA is and the benefits of using the HIA approach to including public health considerations in community design; 2. Evaluate the feasibility of conducting HIA in their community;
• Discuss how to move forward to best implement an HIA process in their community.

Related Web page: www.naccho.org/topics/hpdp/Land_Use_Planning.cfm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation