New CDC Report Shows Benefits of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in Improving Neighborhood and Community Health

WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Planning Association (APA) welcomes a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighting a growing trend to improve public health through land-use and transportation decision making. The CDC surveyed the use of Health Impact Assessments (HIA) in the United States and compiled 27 case studies on topics ranging from policies about living wages and after-school programs to power plants and public transportation. According to APA, concerns about obesity, climate change, sustainable solutions for healthier living, and related concerns, coupled with a growing understanding of how planned environments of communities can impact health, are fueling the use of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in the U.S.

WHAT: Press briefing, via conference call, explaining use of HIAs and highlighting examples of their use:

SOURCE The American Planning Association