Utilizing participatory approaches to inform a health impact assessment of a city's revitalization plan

Health impact assessments (HIA) are a rapidly emerging practice and are increasingly being used to evaluate potential public health impacts of municipal planning and policy efforts. Developing “people-centered, low technology approaches” to conducting HIA's have been called for. In 2011, a HIA was conducted to determine the impact of a western city's revitalization subarea plan on healthy eating, active living. Throughout the HIA, an extensive community-based participatory approach called an action oriented community diagnosis (AOCD) process was used. The AOCD process emphasizes assessing, action planning, and contributing to community capacity building; not merely identifying problems or community needs. Over a nine-month period, community members were engaged in two of the key HIA steps - assessing risks and benefits, and developing recommendations through a variety of AOCD strategies (e.g., advisory committee, neighborhood tours, walkability/bikeability assessments, community mapping and community forums). The HIA team worked with over 130 community members to inform the HIA. Community-driven findings related to increasing multi-modal transportation connectivity, and safety and image through the vitalization plan were included in the final report, presented before city council, and ultimately informed the city's implementation efforts. The purpose of this presentation is to: 1) describe the AOCD strategies used in the HIA; 2) highlight strengths and challenges of community engagement in HIA processes; and 3) discuss lessons learned.