Community engagement to improve health and social capital: PACE EH success stories from the field

Is there a community in your jurisdiction facing issues such as dilapidated housing, drug trafficking, poor water quality, sewage, and built environment issues that impede physical activity and safety? The Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE EH) is a tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conjunction with the National Association of County and City Health Officials that can help. PACE EH is a tool designed to foster collaboration among local environmental health programs and the community to drive community-based environmental health improvements. This session will address examples of how the tool has been effective in empowering disadvantaged communities, leveraging subsequent investment in these communities ($20 million in public health improvements in Florida alone), and achieving public and environmental health benefits. The presentation will also address other benefits of PACE EH, including its use as a workforce development for local health department staff in areas such as outreach, cultural competency, and partnership building. PACE EH can also help local health departments prepare for the upcoming accreditation process, as it plays a role in several of the 10 Essential Public Health Services, on which accreditation will be based.