PLANNING FOR HEALTH
Maria Vyas, AICP | Julie Bjornstad, AICP
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Active Transportation
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Planning & the Planning Process2. Integrating Health and Planning3. Encouragement through Planning
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Planning & the Planning Process2. Integrating Health and Planning3. Encouragement through Planning
PLANNING PROCESS
• Planning departments: What do they do?– Long Range Planning– Plan Review
• Required by state law:– Planning Commissions– General Plan
• Transportation requirements
PLANNING PROCESS
• Planning and the Medical Community– Typical involvement– Your experience?
PLANNING PROCESS
• Active Transportation Elements– Master plans– Project implementation– Support of transit projects– Development policies
PLANNING PROCESS
• UDOH Handbook: Bridging the gap– How-to guide to create plans– Flow-chart type document– Focused on process– Stakeholder group included: PANO, UDOT, UTA,
WFRC– Advocacy community outreach
PLANNING PROCESS
Goals & Objectives
Existing Conditions Analysis Project
SelectionProject
Prioritization Implement
UDOH Handbook structure
PLANNING PROCESS
• UDOH Handbook is…– Geared to a range of communities – Choose your own adventure
• Novice to experienced commuter
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Planning & the Planning Process2. Integrating Health and Planning3. Encouragement through Planning
HEALTH INTEGRATION
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.”
as defined by the Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization
(WHO 1948)
HEALTH INTEGRATION
UDOH HANDBOOK
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Inventory of existing conditions includes public health information
– Safety and health data– Obesity data– Reaching out to ERs and hospitals– IBIS, BRFSS, BRIS data
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Inclusion of health professionals in public involvement
– Stakeholder committees– Walking/Biking audits
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Health criteria in project selection– Links to healthcare facilities– Links to recreation sites
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Improving public health benchmarks– Reduced obesity rates– Reduced rates of disease in target
populations– Increase rates of self-reported physical
activity
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Encouraging cities to apply for healthy community awards
– Safe Routes to School awards– Utah Healthy Community program
HEALTH INTEGRATION
OTHER TOOLS
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Comprehensive Plans– Plan Updates– Corrective/Selective Amendments– Revising Codes or Ordinances– Separate Health-related Plans
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Health Impact Assessments– Tool to evaluate health-related impacts of
proposed project or policy– Convenient vehicle for integrating health into
planning
HIA
Social Impact Analysis
Environmental Impact
Analysis
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• HIA Process:1. Screening2. Scoping3. Risk Assessment4. Dissemination5. Monitoring and Evaluation
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• HIA Example – Atlanta Beltline:– Vulnerable communities, health risks, and many
opportunities for health benefits– Outcomes:
• Public health now formal part of planning• $1 million EPA grant to speed development
HEALTH INTEGRATION
• Design for Health– Set of tools focusing on issues where planning
has influence– Clearly draws on research-based evidence– Created the Health Impact Project
• www.healthimpactproject.org
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Planning & the Planning Process2. Integrating Health and Planning3. Encouragement through Planning
ENCOURAGEMENT
• How to use planning programs/policies to encourage active transportation
• Planning for a range of users• Encouragement/awareness techniques
ENCOURAGEMENT - EXAMPLES
• Safe Routes to School• Bike Ambassadors• Rodeos• Bike to Work Week• Marketing Campaigns
WHAT CAN I DO?
• Provide bike/ped resources to patients:– Bike maps– Safety/education brochures
• Sponsor rodeos and other education events• Get involved with planning efforts!
DISCUSSION
What do planners need to know about the health care
industry?