What's New

White House Office of Urban Affairs Host Sustainable Communities Chat with EPA, DOT, and HUD Leadership from EPA, DOT, and HUD met with the Office of Urban Affairs to discuss the priorities of the Sustainable Communities Initiative and the recent NOFA for planning and transportation grants.

HIA in the News: "EPA, CDC Crafting Pilot Program To Elevate Health Considerations In NEPA"

HUD and DOT Issue a Joint Notice of Funding Availability $40 million available through HUD’s Office of Sustainable Communities Community Challenge Planning Grant and $30 million available through DOT’s National Infrastructure Investment Grants.

HIA in the News: “Battlement Mesa Health Assessment Draft Expected September 15” The HIA will examine the impacts of natural gas drilling in Colorado on factors such as crime, traffic accidents, education and drug and alcohol abuse.

HIA in the News: “Group to Study Health Effects of Development Around Light Rail” Health Impact Project grants funds to ISAIAH to look at the health impacts of St. Paul’s light rail development

HIA in the News: “University at Buffalo Planner Samina Raja Earns National Recognition for Healthy Communities Research” Samina Raja, an associate professor of urban and regional planning, is part of the National Academies of Sciences panel charged with developing HIA guidance.

Six New Grants Awarded for Health Impact Assessments Projects in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Texas are at the forefront of a burgeoning movement in the United States to ensure health is considered in sectors that do not traditionally factor it into their decision making.

RWJF-Funded Active Living Research Program Releases Rapid-Response Call for Proposals Grants of up to $150,000 each will studies on physical activity-related policy and environmental change efforts.

HIA in the News: "Creating a Community That is Healthy by Design by Using a Health Impact Assessment" The Yellowstone City-County Health Department in Billings, Montana conducted three HIAs to help guide community development.

HIA in the News: “Chevron Issues 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report” Chevron reports that it is applying “environmental, social, and health impact assessment” to 690 projects worldwide.

HIA in the News: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Releases Brief on Transportation Policy Recommendations include use of HIA as a tool to connect transportation and health.

HIA in the News: Community Health Partnership Receives Kaiser Permanente Grant for HIA Funding for the HIA is part of $7 million in grants to benefit communities.

Health Impact Project Launches New Web Feature to Track U.S. HIAs Health Impact Project Invites Users to Submit Info on Health Impact Assessments Across U.S.

Guidance on Integrated Environment and Health Assessment Released by United Nations The United Nations Environment Program and the Pan-American Health Organization recently published a guidance document titled, “GEO Health: Methodology for Integrated Environment and Health Assessment. A focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.”

HIA in the News: Alaska Proposes HIA Legislation On February 23, 2010, Alaska State Representative Cissna introduced a bill related to health impact assessments.

HIA in the News: San Francisco Department of Public Health Opens Enrollment for June 2010 HIA Training Course The four-day training will cover strategies for implementing the steps of HIA.

HIA in the News: “Officials Present Humboldt County's Health Impact Assessment at National Conference in D.C.” A District Supervisor and Public Health Officer demonstrate how HIA can be used to consider health and make better land use planning decisions.

Grant Awarded to Conduct HIA on California Climate Change Legislation California Department of Public Health will conduct the first study of its kind on a cap-and-trade program.

HIA in the News: “New Guidance on Health Impact Assessment Released” The International Council on Mining and Metals published a new guidance document on HIA.

HIA in the News: "Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail Awarded Two Grants" As part of a "Healthy Trails, Healthy People" program, an HIA will be conducted in Western New York.

HIA in the News: "Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Actions to Fight Obesity, Promote Healthy Living" Governor Schwarzenegger calls for improving health and advancing other statewide goals, such as economic well-being and addressing climate change, by considering “health in all policies.”

First Round Call for Proposals to Close February 26, 2010 Based on an extraordinary response, the Health Impact Project is closing its call for proposals and initial round of funding on February 26, 2010.

HIA Practitioners to Convene for “HIA in the Americas Workshop” In March 2010, HIA practitioners will gather in Oakland, California to discuss the growth of the field and strategies for future work.

Human Impact Partners to Provide Grantee Training Human Impact Partners has been selected to provide training, mentoring and technical assistance to the Project’s health impact assessment grantees.

HIA in the News: "Health Concerns to Play Larger Role in Portland, Other Cities' Future Planning" Public health activists in East Portland are working to create “20-minute neighborhoods” – walkable communities that promote healthier lifestyles for residents.

HIA in the News: "Battlement Mesa Health Studies Moving Ahead" Battlement Mesa, CO is ramping up to conduct an HIA evaluating the effects of potential oil and gas drilling.

HIA in the News: “Health Impact Assessment Capacity Building Project for North West of England” The European Public Health Alliance shares information about HIA capacity building efforts in England.

WHO Seeks Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant for Health Sector The World Health Organization is recruiting a consultant to develop environmental impact assessment in the health sector.

The World Health Organization and International Association for Impact Assessment to Host HIA Conference The World Health Organization and International Association for Impact Assessment will host a one-day conference in Geneva this April on recent advances in the HIA field.

HIA in the News: “Massachusetts Department of Transportation Priority: Healthy Transportation” As part of a Healthy Transportation Compact, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is looking at the role of a Health Impact Assessment in promoting healthy transportation options.

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Seeks to Hire a Medical Epidemiologist for HIA Program The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is recruiting a medical epidemiologist to create and run a new Alaska Health Impact Assessment Program.

National Association for County and City Health Officials Requests Applications for HIA Mentorship Project The National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is requesting applications from local health departments interested in participating in the HIA Mentorship Project. The Project will promote the use of HIA in the United States, in part by providing HIA technical assistance. The completed application is due January 18, 2010.

HIA in the News: “Step by Step” Curbing childhood obesity rates by examining the environment in which kids live is the focus of this story from central Oregon. A state task force on obesity recently recommended that communities conduct HIAs to understand environmental impacts on health.

Alaska Public Health Association Promotes HIA The Alaska Public Health Association passed a resolution at its annual summit held in Anchorage last month recommending health impact assessments be used when considering transportation and land use policies. Read this blog post from the Alaska Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance for the details.

HIA in the News: “Thai Cabinet approves EIA, HIA ministerial regulation” On December 29, Thailand’s Cabinet approved regulations that require environmental and health impact assessment reports for all projects and decisions that have the potential to affect communities. The new regulations also include production guidelines for the required reports.

HIA in the News: “Top Doc Lauds GarCo Officials for Offer to Fund Health Study” Discussions on HIA continue in Garfield County, Colorado. In this article by the Colorado Independent, Health Impact Project Director Dr. Aaron Wernham is quoted in response to Garfield County commissioners’ willingness to fund a health impact assessment prior to approving a plan to drill 200 natural gas wells in Battlement Mesa.

HIA in the News: “Garfield's Interest in Health Study Praised” Health Impact Project Director Aaron Wernham encourages Garfield County officials to do a health impact assessment in an area where up to 200 natural gas wells may be drilled. Residents in the community have petitioned the County commissioners to conduct the study.

HIA in the News: "Fighting for Health" The Oakland Tribune and the Contra Costa Times take an in depth look at how community leaders in the poverty- and disease-stricken East Oakland neighborhood of Sobrante Park are teaming up with the local health department to improve their community’s quality of life. The report highlights other communities where efforts are being made to address the root causes of poor health, including the recent San Francisco Department of Public Health-led health impact assessment around high density housing projects, and the efforts of the Oakland nonprofit Human Impact Partners.

HIA in the News: "Group Looks to Improve Health of New London Residents" In New London, CT, a public health advocacy group presented its recommendations to the city council for reducing and preventing chronic disease among residents. One would require health impact assessments to be conducted for all new zoning and transportation proposals.

Health Impact Project Director to Speak at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health On December 7, Dr. Aaron Wernham will discuss health impact assessments as a tool to create healthier communities and address the root causes of public health problems as part of a lecture series at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

National Academy of Sciences to Undertake an HIA Guidance Study Health Impact Project director Aaron Wernham will take part in a new National Academy of Sciences project, "A Framework and Guidance for Health Impact Assessment."

HIA in the News: “Developers of Proposed Springfield Biomass Plant Tell Public Health Council: 'Nothing Less Than the Best'” Susanne K. Condon, director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Environmental Health, recommended a health impact assessment in response to communities concerns about a proposed waste-to-energy power plant in Springfield.

HIA in the News: “State Oil and Gas Chief: Battlement Mesa Drilling Health Study Not Pressing” Residents in Colorado’s Garfield County have requested a health impact assessment before government officials agree to 200 gas wells and other oil and gas development in their community.

Health Impact Assessment at the County Level At a recent Montgomery County Council meeting, Dr. Wernham discussed HIA with Professor Keshia Pollack from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and County Health Director Uma Ahluwalia.

HIA in the News: "Battlement Mesa Residents Ask for Health Study in Advance of Drilling Agreement" In Colorado, a group of citizens are pushing for HIA to determine the health implications of a proposed drilling plan near the retirement community where they live.

Putting Health Impact Assessment on the Map Project director Aaron Wernham is making rounds on the HIA speaking circuit. He recently spoke at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in Philadelphia.

HIA in the News: "Built to Heal" Sustainable Industries takes a look at how HIA is helping community groups, city officials and developers in the San Francisco Bay Area make healthy land-use decisions.

HIA in the News: "Napa Pipe draft EIR out, health impact assessment expected" Health impact assessment is to be included as part of the planning process for the proposed Napa Pipe development. Dr. Karen Smith, the county public health officer who will be submitting the HIA, is interviewed.

Meet the Project Director and Learn More about the Health Impact Project Dr. Aaron Wernham answers five questions about health impact assessment and the Project

Health Impact Project Now Accepting Proposals for HIA Demonstration Projects The project will fund government agencies at the local, state and tribal levels, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis and will range from between $25,000 and $150,000 each.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts Launch National Initiative to Advance Policies that Promote Health The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the launch of the Health Impact Project, a national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments as a decision-making tool for policymakers.

HIA in the News: "Montgomery County Wants to Know: Will That Road Make You Sick?" A September 28, 2009 article covered Montgomery County, MD, council members’ efforts to use HIAs as a means of exploring the effects of a proposed new road on community health.