CHN\u2019s research is focused on how our health and longevity are affected by the characteristics of society; where we live, work, and play; how we interact with each other and with aspects of daily living\u2014a concept collectively referred to as the social determinants of health.\u00a0 This effort builds on vast research that suggests characteristics of our daily life have just as much if not more of an impact on our health as what happens in a doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 Decision-making at the local, state, and national levels tends to be compartmentalized so that policy decisions on education, transportation, agriculture, energy production and any other area can be made without a full understanding of the impact on our health.\u00a0 In turn, health concerns are addressed incompletely in health care when decision-makers ignore the role of policies outside the health sector.<\/p>\n
A health impact assessment (HIA) is a systematic effort to shine light on the hidden health implications of policy decisions and the interconnections between policy spheres.<\/p>\n
Background on Health Impact Assessment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n HIAs have been practiced for much longer and much more frequently in Europe and Australia than in the United States.\u00a0 The first officially recognized HIA in the United States was published in 1999 in San Francisco.\u00a0 Since that time, more than 100 HIA projects have been launched across the nation.\u00a0 We believe CHN\u2019s HIA is the first official HIA conducted on a decision to be made in the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can read the report [here<\/a>].<\/p>\n CHN\u2019s Health Impact Assessment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n CHN received funding from the Health Impact Project\u2014a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts\u2014to conduct an HIA on a proposed alternative energy facility in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.\u00a0 The next post will discuss the background of the project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CHN\u2019s research is focused on how our health and longevity are affected by the characteristics of society; where we live, work, and play; how we interact with each other and with aspects of daily living\u2014a concept collectively referred to as the social determinants of health.\u00a0 This effort builds on vast research that suggests characteristics of…<\/p>\n