Oral

The 30+ members of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) represent added capacity in the public health system for addressing the most challenging current and emerging population health issues. Public health institutes are known for their entrepreneurial leadership, convening of multi-sector partners from across the public health system, and strong organizational and programmatic capacity. The launch of the National Prevention Strategy, the Partnership for Sustainable Communities initiative between EPA/HUD/DOT and the recent IOM report Improving Health in the United States: The Role of Health Impact Assessment among other national initiatives has supported increased interest in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a tool for incorporating health in decision making nationally. In 2011, NNPHI was funded to support capacity building for Health Impact Assessment in partnership with the Health Impact Project. NNPHI funded two public health institutes, the Georgia Health Policy Center and the Oregon Public Health Institute to serve as regional training centers on HIA and provide direct technical assistance on HIA to public health institutes, health departments and other stakeholders. NNPHI also funded two demonstration projects with public health institutes to conduct an HIA. NNPHI co-facilitated the Inaugural National HIA Meeting, April 3-4, 2012 and, through the public health institutes, is providing technical assistance to several federal agencies within the National Prevention Council to support their use of HIA as a tool. This session will provide an overview of the roles of public health institutes in conducting and providing capacity building for health impact assessments and highlight three examples of public health institutes’ approaches. The session will also highlight the role of NNPHI in supporting the national community of practice through the National HIA Meeting.

Session Objectives: 1)Describe the added capacity public health institutes bring to the public health system 2)Summarize public health institutes’ experiences in implementing health impact assessments 3) Articulate the value public health institutes bring to health impact assessments 4) Share results from the evaluation of the Inaugural National HIA Meeting

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)