Public Health’s Role in Improving Healthy Built Environments

May 14 | 2-3pm ET | Earn 1 AIA LU/HSW

Description

With substantial research demonstrating the connection between the environment and public health outcomes, it is imperative that we identify and pursue opportunities within our communities that promote health, address disparities, and improve well-being. While many of these factors—transportation, land use planning, housing, parks, and economic development—are outside the public health field’s direct control, the Tennessee Department of Health has still established itself as a national leader in improving public health, safety, and welfare through investments in its built environment. In this presentation, you’ll gain an overview of the Tennessee Department of Health’s successes—led by the Office of Primary Prevention— including the significance of regional healthy development coordinators, the Healthy Built Environments Grant program, and cross-agency, multi-disciplinary partnerships. 

Learning Objectives

• Recognize how a public health department can engage in built environment work.
• Identify potential funding streams and strategies to support the built environment and public health initiatives.
• Describe how health equity can be operationalized in the built environment and public health through safety initiatives.
• Understand types of potential partners for addressing the social and environmental factors that influence health.