The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71617

Karen Roof, Environmental Health/Land Use Planning, NACCHO, 1100 17th Street, NW, 2nd Fl, Washington, DC 20036 and Valerie N. Rogers, MPH, Environmental Health, National Association of City and County Officials, 1100 17th Street, NW, 2nd Fl, Washington, DC 20036, 202-783-5550, vrogers@naccho.org.

Land use decisions can have a tremendous impact on a wide range of health and environmental issues from obesity, physical inactivity, traffic and pedestrian safety, to air quality, water quality, and environmental injustice, and psychological stress. Further, research suggests land use/community design decisions have a direct bearing on access to health care, schools and jobs, and overall quality of life of citizens. Given the range of health implications related to land use and community design, it is pertinent that health considerations are an integral part of land use and transportation processes.

Because most land use planning is done at the local level, it is essential that local public health agencies (LPHAs) become more integrated in the land use process in order to address and prevent unfavorable public health outcomes resulting from poor land use decisions. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has begun to explore methods to facilitate greater LPHA involvement in land use planning and are working to bridge the existing gaps between land use planners and LPHAs. Discussion during this session will highlight the benefits of greater LPHA involvement in land use planning/community design activities.

Learning Objectives:

• This interactive roundtable discussion will a) Identify the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration in order to reduce negative public health outcomes associated with land use planning/community design; b) assess different opportunities and strategies for better integration of health into land use and community design processes; c) discuss recommendations to increasing the roles of local public health agencies in the land use planning process; and d) explore strategies to increase awareness and understanding of the impact of land use planning and community design on public health issues.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Environment

Related Web page: www.naccho.org/project84.cfm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.