Residents, stakeholders and program planners: Walk, talk, decide and act together to create a healthier community

ISSUE: Healthy communities fully engage a broad range of stakeholders to develop and implement programs and policies that support wellness, prevention and social well-being. This session demonstrates how guided, interactive walking tours in an underserved community used multi-sector engagement to define and develop actionable steps towards a healthier community. APPROACH: Using the lens of TOUCH, a CDC Community Transformation Grant, intergenerational and multi-cultural stakeholders joined in community-focused walking tours to experience, literally from the ground up, the complex interrelationships and influences of the built environment, access to healthy foods, smoking, and prevention of illness, in neighborhood health. These tours used community facilitators to guide participant understanding of walkability/bikeability/wheelchair accessibility, availability of fresh produce, safe, smoke-free parks and community-based health services. Walkers gathered afterwards to share insights and recommendations. Strategies and policies impacting each priority area were vetted with the community for further action. RESULTS: A 2012 walking tour led to a youth-led policy change and capital improvement project ($420,000) designed to improve safety for students, increase physical activity and display local artwork. Strategies to improve healthy foods at corner stores are being implemented. Sites for youth-led gardens are being identified and funds sought. A community-based health clinic is improving signage to support outreach and access by un/underinsured residents. DISCUSSION: Healthy communities are vital for improved education, economic development and social engagement. Decision makers often have difficulty understanding the interrelationship of programs, policies, and health. Guided, audited walking tours offer an effective method to bring multi-sector support to improve community health.