Roundtable

This Roundtable session demonstrates partnership between local health and communities in addressing new concerns in community through policy and environment changes. It also address HIA with specific examples in Boston and Wisconsin. It also addresses new epidemic Obesity as Obesity is a major public health issue. Access to nutrition information may help restaurant customers make healthier (i.e. lower calorie) choices. Prior to implementation of nutrition labeling regulations, information on caloric content (as well and fat and sodium) were not readily available to customers at time of purchase. Chain restaurants in Seattle/King County must now provide relevant information to customers. This again stresses the importance to bring any change we need to work with community partners, local health departments. In this round table we can see such partnership effects of local health departments with other agencies to work toward wellness of the community.

Session Objectives: After attending this session participants will be able to: 1.•Identify useful and appropriate roles for public health departments in improving community wellness, changing policies 2. Demonstarte successful partnership with other agenices to address concerns over environment and understand with examples from Boston, Wisconsin and also some restaurant menu nutrition labeling. 3•Explain the basics of HIA which is discussed as an example of , changing policies 4•Describe an evaluation methodology that can account for policy and practice changes impacts on health outcomes. 5•List groups from their own communities to engage in planning community wellness initiatives.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)