Educate state and local public health officials on the relationship between public health and the built environment
Action
Until recently, few public officials gave much thought to the ways that a place's design might affect a person's health. Now, civic and public health leaders may be aware of those impacts, but they still face political and regulatory barriers to change. Therefore, states should train state and local public health workers to raise awareness of the relationship between the built environment and public health, and should help them build the capacity to educate officials in other agencies about potential solutions.
States can take several steps to ensure that local public health officials raise awareness by becoming engaged in the land-use decision-making process. Increasing the involvement of state and local public health officials in development decisions leads to more support for development patterns that benefit public health, such as neighborhoods that are friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians. Another approach would be to convene multi-agency state government task forces where these issues could be discussed and where cross-departmental solutions could be considered.
Process
The State can take several steps to increase awareness of the impact of development patterns on community health. First, it should develop a communications strategy that includes outreach to the public health community and state, local, and county officials. Such a strategy could involve hosting speakers, distributing written materials in hardcopy and online, holding regular conference calls on the built environment and public health, and establishing a listserv.
Second, state agencies should consider hiring planners and other professionals who are versed in the development process, and should encourage both state and local public health officials to become more involved in development decisions as members of local planning boards, development review commissions and regional planning councils. Increasing the involvement of state and local public health officials in development decisions by providing relevant training and convening cross-agency meetings can lead to more support for development patterns that benefit public health.
Third, state health departments can compile a list of assistance programs and financing sources, such as federal transportation enhancement and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, that can be used to make communities and neighborhoods pedestrian and bicycle friendly. In addition, the agency can collect and disseminate data that can be used by local health officials to make the case for compact, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. If possible, such data should address not only the health impacts of development features, but also relevant economic impacts, such as savings in health costs associated with the addition of sidewalks.
Examples
- Florida's Division of Environmental Health
The Florida Division of Environmental Health has used many of the approaches discussed above to build its capacity on development and public health issues. It operates with the understanding that urban planning and land-use patterns have a direct impact on public health and neighborhood prosperity. The Division of Environmental Health, a division of the Department of Health (and the first public health agency to become a partner in the national Smart Growth Network), was instrumental in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Smart Growth among four state departments: Community Affairs, Environmental Protection, Health, and Transportation.
— Florida's Division of Environmental Health - California's Healthy Transportation Network
California's Healthy Transportation Network is a state initiative coordinated by the California Center for Physical Activity, which was established by the California Department of Health Services. The Healthy Transportation Network provides technical assistance to local officials with planning walkable and bike-able communities by drawing upon relevant case studies and a comprehensive database. The network receives funding from the Department of Transportation's Enhancement Funds and from the California Department of Transportation.
— California's Healthy Transportation Network
