ust200 dev
boodkvokhari
the_city_and_public_health.pptxThe City and Its Health
A Brief History of Public Health
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the synergies between urban planning and public health were evident in at least three areas:
Creation of green space to promote physical activity, social integration, and better mental health,
Prevention of infectious diseases through community infrastructure, such as drinking water and sewage systems, and
Protection of persons from hazardous industrial exposures and injury risks through land-use and zoning ordinances.
During the middle of the 20th century, the disciplines drifted apart because of their success in limiting health and safety risks caused by inappropriate mixing of land uses.
Shared Concerns
Shared concerns have included:
Transportation planning to improve air quality,
Parks and recreational facilities to contribute to physical activity and mental health,
Community design addressing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,
Emergency preparedness (emergency services and evacuation planning)
Access to healthy foods, health programs and health care facilities
Common Missions
Urban planning and public health share common missions.
Improve human well-being,
Emphasize needs assessment and service delivery,
Manage complex social systems,
Focus at the population level, and
Rely on community-based participatory methods.
Both fields focus on the needs of vulnerable populations.
Shared Perspectives
The fields of urban planning and public health have broadened their perspectives.
Initially, public health most often used a biomedical model:
The normal/abnormal functioning of the human organism.
Urban planning often relied on a geographic model
Analysis of human needs or interactions in a spatial context.
Both fields have expanded their tools and perspectives, in part because of the influence of the other.
Planning and Public Health Reunited
The term Healthy Cities was coined in 1985. It was the title of a speech given at an international meeting in Canada (World Health Organization).
Health is much more than medical care.
The Planning and Community Health Center prioritizes three issue areas in its work.
Active Living
Food Systems
Health in All Planning Policies
Active Living
Active living is defined as "a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines," active living is promoted by facilitating opportunities for physical activity.
Parks, recreational facilities, pedestrian and bike access, access to shared/public transportation, and human scale buildings all play a role in enabling active living.
Creating a human scale environment means making spaces (buildings, pathways, and open spaces) that we can interact with every day are of a size and shape reasonable for an average person to use.
Food Systems
In recent years, planners have become more involved in issues surrounding food and the development of equitable policies on issues that affect the food system. Efforts undertaken by planners include
enhancing access to healthy foods,
promoting food security, and
preserving agricultural land.
These strategies can have a significant impact on public health, and in particular, impact the health of vulnerable populations.
Health in All Policies
Promote policies that advance:
a strong food system,
public safety,
economic development,
mobility and transportation options,
educational attainment, and
reducing pollution.
Requires collaboration with planners, public health professionals, governmental partners and other community stakeholders to integrate these considerations during the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and services.
Measuring the Impact
Metrics, capacity, staff to do work and sustainable institutions are all necessary to create a successful plan for a healthier community.
Sustainable institutions have good leadership and are able to continually get funding through grants and private foundations. Strong leaders are those who can get their visions accomplished.
The result of a truly integrated matrix of partnerships is that different agencies addressing crime, transportation, housing and healthcare are brought together for the first time at one table.
Breaking down the silos is key.
Successful Partnerships for Community Health
No single simple solution exists for these community challenges. A complex array of factors influences community health and wellbeing, so effective solutions must be multi-faceted.
If all stakeholders understand the benefits and cost savings an integrated community health strategy can bring, a significant opportunity to impact public health and enrich lives in a tangible way can be achieved.
Assignments for Monday, April 24
Assess your community's physical activity infrastructure. Physical health infrastructure includes playgrounds, nature trails, recreational parks, sidewalks, bike lanes, availability of public transit, access to healthy foods, health centers/hospitals, and any other elements you feel contribute to a healthy place.
Give your community a rating of 1-5 (1 is the worst, meaning no infrastructure, 5 is the best meaning readily available and community-wide access). Provide examples and links of each, if applicable. Also note if there are significant public health hazards in your community that require intervention. This should be about 400-500 words (about one page).
Please read the What is Community Development? article posted to Blackboard (not in the textbook).
