Community Development and Health
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Community development strengthens the economic, physical, and social environments in low-income areas. Community development corporations (CDCs) often play a major role in community development, which seeks to build capacity and address poverty in communities through (public and private) investments in the local economy, and community-based services like housing, sanitation, street and neighborhood improvement, and other social services.
Evidence Base
Economic Development
Community Organizing
Community Infrastructure
Community Resources
Factors
Economic growth that is fairly distributed across society builds equity, creates more opportunities for all, and attracts businesses and commercial investment, and in turn, creates more jobs, an increased tax base, and better access to necessary goods and services.
Mobilizing people with shared values and concerns to influence local decision-making and policy facilitates community engagement and civic participation, and strengthens community relationships.
Development and improvement of community buildings, housing, streets, parks, and open spaces increases resident interactions, activity levels, and sense of safety.
Community services like housing, job training, childcare, counseling, along with access to resources like transportation, open space, health care, and quality schools, support individual and family needs and improve quality of life.
Outcomes
Increased household incomes and financial stability
Improved population mental health and decreased chronic disease
Improved population mental health and decreased chronic disease
Increased community connectedness and belonging and civic muscle
Improved physical and mental health; decreased substance abuse and cancer
Improved physical and mental health; decreased substance abuse and cancer
Improved health outcomes like cardiovascular disease and obesity, and decreased injury
Improved quality of life and health and well-being outcomes like respiratory illness, diabetes, and mental health
Adapted from The Pew Charitable Trusts, Health Impact Assessment Can Inform Community Development Decisions
Featured Resources
Health Impact Assessment Can Inform Community Development Decisions: How the HIA Process Can Align Sectors in Pursuit of Shared Goals
This brief presents case studies about HIAs and draws from a review conducted by the Georgia Health Policy Center that summarized the HIA process and findings. ...
The Relationship Between Community Development and Health
This resource provides connections between health and factors in the community development sector, including economic development, infrastructure, community org...
Employment Strongly Influences Health
This resource shows that employment has a strong influence on health. It provides data indicating that employment affects factors such as income stability, acce...
HIAs in Community Development
HIAs can inform community development decisions and help integrate health and well-being goals into community development work.
HIAs that pertain to community development are often focused on specific projects like neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and job creation, as well as applying tax credits to community and housing investments. HIAs help community developers identify strategic policy and financing opportunities when it comes to community investments.
EXAMPLE HIAS
Revitalization in Historic Natchez, Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health, in partnership with stakeholders from the city of Natchez and Adams County, conducted an HIA to inform decisions abo...
East Harlem Neighborhood Plan
East Harlem has lost more than 1,500 affordable housing units since 2011 and is projected to lose nearly 7,000 more over the next decade. The New York Academy o...
Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF...
Omaha Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan
The Douglas County Health Department conducted an HIA to inform the Omaha Planning Department and City Council’s Deer Park Neighborhood Redevelopment Pla...
Georgia Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
This health impact assessment, or HIA, will inform the 2015 Georgia Qualified Allocation Plan for low-income housing tax credits. The plan is required each year...
Potential Full-Service Grocery Store Development in a Food Desert
Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health, along with the Marion County Public Health Department and Indiana Minority Health Coalition, conducted a h...
More Related Resources
The Intersection of Community Development and Mental Health
This fact sheet examines how safe, thriving neighborhoods influence mental health, explores the importance of community development to health and health outcome...
Leveraging Multi-Sector Investments: New Opportunities to Improve the Health and Vitality of Communities
This resource explores the potential of utilizing multi-sector investments to enhance the health and well-being of communities. The authors highlight new opport...
Community Development Counteracts Isolation
This fact sheet looks at how community development can be used to address the negative health impacts of isolation.
Equitable Economic and Community Development Policy Guide
Economic development and community development are ways to build better places to live. It is equitable when community members can decide on and take action tog...
Community Economic Development & Healthcare Playbook
This playbook is an action-oriented guide designed for community economic development organizations and social enterprises who want to pursue partnerships with ...
A Simplified Framework for Incorporating Health Into Community Development Initiatives
This resource discusses community development and public health sharing common objectives in addressing poverty-related consequences through improving housing, ...
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