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?