Transcript Health Impact Assessment for Healthy Places: A Guide for Planning and Public Health Today’s Agenda • Introductions and Envisioning Exercise • 6 Modules: • Introduction to HIA and.

Health Impact
Assessment for
Healthy Places:
A Guide for
Planning and
Public Health
Today’s Agenda
• Introductions and Envisioning Exercise
• 6 Modules:
• Introduction to HIA and Buford Highway
• Screening
• Scoping
• Assessment
• Reporting
• Evaluation
• Conclusions and Next Steps
Module 1: Introduction to HIA
Goal: To understand what an HIA is and the benefits
and value of conducting an HIA when making
decisions about policy and projects.
Health Impact Assessment for Healthy Places:
A Guide for Planning and Public Health
Module 1: Objectives
1. Define what an HIA is
2. Determine why and when an
HIA should be used
3. Identify the values that
underpin an HIA
4. Define the role of the
community
5. Describe the relationship of an
HIA to an EIA
6. Identify the HIA steps
Public Health and Planning
Planning
Built Environment
HIA
Public Health
HIA
Public Health and Planning
Planning + Public Health
Healthy Communities
Healthier Population
Public Health and Planning
Commonly used planning terms:
Zoning
Density
Connectivity
Urban Sprawl
Allied movements in Urban
Planning:
• New Urbanism
• Smart Growth
What is an HIA?
An HIA is a combination of procedures, methods
and tools by which a policy or project may be
judged as to its potential effects on the health of
a population, and the distribution of those
effects within the population.
-WHO Gothenberg consensus
paper 1999
Why Should You Use an HIA?
• To focus the attention of decision-makers on
the health consequences of projects and
policies they are considering
• To encourage a better informed decision with
respect to health
When Should You Use an HIA?
• As early as practical in decision making process
• Ideally HIA requested by decision makers
• Sufficient details about the project or policy
• When an HIA still has the potential to affect
decisions
• As part of ongoing work and relationship
building
Proposal
HIA
Decision
What Values Underpin an HIA?
•Democracy
•Equity
•Sustainable Development
•Scientific and Robust Practice
•Holistic Approach to Health
Benefits of Community
Involvement
•Increases buy-in
•Identification of social issues and health issues
•Address community concerns
•Builds community capacity
Challenges of Community
Involvement
•Increased time and resources needed to conduct
an HIA
•Conflict between lay and expert knowledge
•Difficulty in identifying and engaging all
stakeholders
Environmental Impact
Assessments
•1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
•The purpose of NEPA is to protect the “human
environment” and “stimulate the health and welfare
of man” (NEPA, 1979, sec. 2)
Bringing Health to EIA:
Opportunities for Involvement
• Serve as a “Cooperating Agency” in the
development of health-related sections
• Participate in public review of an EIA
• Providing technical support
Challenges of Incorporating
HIA into EIA
HIA components could logically
fit within an EIA but . . .
 Long, complex documents
 Time-consuming, expensive
and litigious
 Focus on projects not policies
 Focus on adverse effects
 Often too late to affect design
 Funded by decision proponent
 “Reactive” public involvement
Steps in Completing an HIA
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Assessment
4. Reporting
5. Evaluation
Introduction to Buford Highway
CDC
http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2010/07/27/buford-highways-dangers-to-pedestrians-gets-pbs-treatment
Highlights on Buford Highway
•
Death and Injuries: 3x higher than anywhere
in GA; last decade nearly 30 killed and over
250 injured
•
8 of 30 miles considered very hazardous; 7
lanes of traffic; 45 mph speed limit
•
High transit use; long blocks and limited
crosswalks
•
Low socioeconomic status and Minority
populations