Welcome
| We have a new name! The Land Use and Health Program is now Planning for Healthy Places. As we have incorporated economic development and other built environment policy strategies into our practice, we needed a new name to reflect a broader approach to creating healthy communities. |
Land use policy offers a valuable set of tools to promote and enhance healthy communities. Local governments, private developers, and community groups can all work to create patterns of development that improve community health--by ensuring that farmers' markets and neighborhood grocery stores are supported, for instance, or by promoting sidewalks, parks and other environmental components that encourage physical activity.
Planning for Healthy Places at Public Health Law & Policy works to engage public health advocates in the land-use decision-making process throughout California. We develop tools for training advocates in the relationship between the built environment and public health, and provide technical assistance for creating and implementing land use policies that support healthier communities.
Contact us for more information, resources, or technical assistance or training inquiries.
Resource of the Month
Healthy Community Planning Web Dialogue Series
The Institute for Local Government's Healthy Communities program in collaboration with The Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership is hosting a series of free online dialogues for city, county, and school officials and staff members about the relationship between public health and the built environment.
Learn from local policy leaders throughout California about what they have done to promote active living and healthy eating in their communities. You’ll have the chance to pose questions, offer insights and quickly connect to resources. This is an opportunity to learn new strategies and tools that your board or council can use to reverse negative health trends related to physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and exposure to environmental toxins. Planning for Healthy Places staff are among those participating!
Participants will be able to log in any time during a 10 day period for each online discussion. Sign up by logging onto to www.ca-ilg.org/webdialogue or emailing Greg Keidan: gkeidan@ca-ilg.org
Illustrations by Janet Cleland
© California Department of Health Services
