Tools and Resources
Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
Need a tool to include health in the decision making process for a policy, plan, program or project? A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) may be your answer. HIA is a tool to help make healthier choices. HIA is a process using data, health expertise, and input from stakeholders to consider the potential positive and negative effects of a policy, plan, program or project. HIAs can provide recommendations to increase positive health outcomes and minimize adverse health outcomes. An HIA often includes a written report or summary prepared for decision makers or the public.
Data & Indicators
Having data about your community and health outcomes can help make strong arguments for change. A variety of free data sources are available about population demographics, traffic accidents, chronic disease rates or environmental quality. Find sources for data to use for planning, demonstrate need, establish priorities or strengthen a grant application. One way to use data is by indicator characteristics of the built environment related to health and livability. Examples of indicators include information about place, parks, food, transportation, partnerships, schools, housing, safety and health equity. Using indicators can be helpful as indicators allow comparison of one place or one community to another. A checklist is available to help communities use indicators.
Funding Opportunities
A community may have great ideas that would improve the health of the people living, working, studying and visiting there. Project funding can come from a wide variety of sources including the federal, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, foundations, private business sponsors, health care providers and insurers and others. Transportation, Planning, and Economic and Community Development have traditionally been good funders of placemaking projects. Some funding is guaranteed and some is highly competitive. Some funding opportunities require advanced planning and some come around every year. This information can help navigate to sources of funding.
Publications
There are many helpful publications mentioned on the topic pages. Here is an even bigger, growing collection of publications to help ensure public health is considered when making policy, systems and environmental changes.
Learning Opportunities
There are many webinars, conferences, meetings and other opportunities to learn, share or experience how to be an advocate for health and the built environment. Learn how to help people live, work, study and play in places that are economically strong, socially equitable and environmentally sound.
Healthy Places Newsletters
Here is a partial list of regional, state, and nationwide newsletters connected in some way to health and the built environment. You can view many of these resources online or ask to have them sent periodically to your email inbox.