Healthy Cities / Healthy Communities

Healthy Cities / Healthy Communities A theoretical framework for a process by which citizens can create healthy communities. Communities where all systems work well and together and where all citizens enjoy a good quality of life. Loosely-defined strategy that involves all community members addressing issues that are important to them.

Two Premises of Healthy Cities/Healthy Communities A comprehensive view of health. A commitment to healthy promotion.

Prerequisites for Health in Communities Peace Shelter Education Food Income Stable ecosystem Social justice Equity Sustainable resources

How to Promote Community Health Build public policy. Create supportive environments. Strengthen community action. Develop personal skills. Re-orient services.

Community Environments Natural Economic Leisure Political Work Built Social

Why use Healthy Cities/Healthy Communities? Community perspective. Participatory planning and community ownership. Range of ideas. Knowledge of the community. Community-wide ties. Achievable and measurable goals Identification and use of community assets and resources. Community self-image. Community commitment to the long-term process.

Who should participate? Elected and appointed officials. Those most affected by the issue. People who will carry out the initiative or those whose lives will be affected by it. Agencies and groups involved in implementing the effort. Community opinion leaders.

Components of Healthy Cities/Healthy Communities Create a compelling vision based on shared values. Embrace a broad definition of health and well-being. Address quality-of-life for everyone. Engage diverse citizen participation and be citizen-driven. Seek multi-sectoral membership in widespread community ownership. Acknowledge the social determinants of health and the interrelationship of health and other issues. Address issues through collaborative problem-solving. Focus on system change. Build capacity using local assets and resources. Measure and benchmark progress and outcomes.

Three Social Determinants of Health Socio-economic equality. Social connectedness. Sense of personal efficacy.

Potential Local Assets and Resources Impassioned individuals with talent, skills, and leadership. Those with material resources: money, space, etc. Institutions (libraries, schools, houses of worship…) that can be resources. Organizations whose mission is to work for a better community. Official government support along with legal and regulatory powers. human resources—skills and work ethic. Natural and other environmental resources. The potential for these parts to coordinate.

Steps to Implement a Healthy Community Strategy Assemble a diverse and inclusive group. Generate a vision. Assess the assets and resources in the community that can help you realize your vision, and the issues that act as barriers to it. Choose a first issue to focus on. Develop a community-wide strategy, incorporating as many organizations, levels, and sectors as possible. Implement the plan.

Steps to Implement a Healthy Community Strategy (cont.) Monitor and adjust your initiative or intervention. Establish new systems that will maintain and build on the gains you’ve made. Celebrate benchmarks and successes. Tackle the next issues.