Research Details

Focus Groups

NACCHO conducted a series of focus groups to determine the roles of local health departments (LHDs) in land use planning; barriers to achieving full integration; and ways in which NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can help local health departments (LHDs) participate in land use planning. NACCHO's research found that, despite the need for LHDs' presence in local planning decisions, LHDs' role is less proactive and more localized than would be ideal. Causes ranged from health officials' lack of awareness to a lack of resources, authority, or understanding of how to become more involved. Fortunately, concrete resources exist for bridging this gap between health officials and land use planners:

• Exploring Land Use Planning: Local Public Health Officials Focus Groups
• Chronic Disease and Environmental Health Focus Groups
• Opportunities, Barriers, and Needs for Promoting Collaboration
• Health Inequities and Community Design
• Traffic Safety and Community Design
• Exploring the Built Environment's Impact on People with Disabilities

Executive summary of all NACCHO focus groups

• Executive Summary
• Quicksheet (Key points among focus group participants)

National Survey

A national Web-based survey of APA members and NACCHO members was conducted to collect data and information for organizations to use to:

• Assess current practices in planning/public health collaboration;
• Explore barriers and opportunities for increased collaboration between planners and public health professionals; and
• Identify communities that have successfully addressed public health issues in the context of visioning/goal setting exercises, long-range comprehensive planning, and current land-use planning and implementation

Click on the link below to see the survey results:
APA-NACCHO 2004 Public Health Planning Survey