Experience and Projects
Health Impact Assessment (HIAs) Project Work
- HIAs Completed
- South Lincoln/La Alma Housing Redevelopment Plan (Received the 2013 the Congress for New Urbanism Charter Award of Global Urban Design Excellence)
Starting in 2009 and released in early 2010, EnviroHealth served as the health consultant to complete the HIA for the South Lincoln Homes redevelopment project. EnviroHealth utilized indicators from multiple sources such as the Healthy Development Measurement Tool (HDMT) and collected data from community residents, community organizers and City staff i.e., focus groups, interviews, walkability and food audits and analyzed surveys and a health study and other completed documents. Lastly, EnviroHealth reported on the health impacts, and the evidence-based recommendations to support better access to community needs such as health care and healthier lifestyles for the residents. EnviroHealth was also hired to assist with the initial customization of the HDMT for the Denver Metropolitan Area, which was completed in May 2010. http://www.healthimpactproject.org/hia/us/south-lincoln-homes
2. Elyria-Swansea and Globeville Station Area Plan
EnviroHealth completed HIAs in the Elyria-Swansea and part of the Globeville neighborhoods in downtown Denver for the Department of Community Planning and Development as a subcontractor to AECOM. The link to the HIA is an updated version completed by graduate students from course Karen Roof instructs called Planning for Healthy Communities.
- NE Downtown Neighborhood Plan
The neighborhood plan HIA consumes a large area in downtown Denver that includes the broader Five Points neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods represent complicated environments with a strong historic context including their industrial pasts and have higher proportions of low income and minority populations. Recommendations were diverse and included efforts that address crime, lack of access, environmental issues, and levels of physical activity.
- Location of a Regional Recreational Facility in Aurora, Colorado
EnviroHealth Consulting also conducted a rapid HIA of a low-income area in North Aurora in the Denver Metropolitan Region for the Stapleton Foundation in summer 2010. The goal of the HIA was to inform the decision of the location of a recreation center. EnviroHealth analyzed available health data and determined data gaps and collected the necessary planning data with Foundation staff. The assessment process used the evidence-based data to recommend the locations and dismiss other established options about a new recreation facility based on access, equity and health disparities. http://www.healthimpactproject.org/hia/us/north-aurora-regional-recreation
- Central Park Boulevard Station Area Plan
EnviroHealth Consulting also completed an HIA to inform this Station Area Plan in 2011, part of a massive light rail project in the Denver metro area. The HIA focused on the current health status of the surrounding population; pedestrian and bicycle routes; transit routes; possible programming and/or housing policy; and need, if any, for a grocery store near the TOD site.
- Strategic Planning and Training
Conducted interviews of City of Boston officials about health, planning, transportation, environment and HIA and transcribed, analyzed and summarized data, conducted a day-long training in Boston in 8/11 with representation from the various City departments and organizations. Also developed a strategic plan for the City to expand the use of HIA and the incorporation of Health In All Policies. A few quotes from the evaluations were, “The group sessions along with feedback, were excellent”
“Very good moderator and flow of the afternoon.”
- Evaluation
An evaluation of components of the South Lincoln HIA was completed by Karen as part of PhD research. The goal is to determine the level of influence on decision making within the redevelopment plan from the process and conducting the HIA. The evaluation determined which of the recommendations from the HIA were adopted into the master plan and the amount of health-supportive language included in the master plan compared to three other housing master plans without an HIA. Also the level of cross-sector collaboration was research of the design team and also the quality of the South Lincoln/La Alma HIA. Interviews were also conducted of key stakeholders. The evaluation has been and will continue to be presented at numerous state, national and international conferences and published in book called, Integrating Health Impact Assessment with the Policy Process: Lessons and experiences from around the world. Chapter 17: By: Karen Roof, Health impact assessment in Colorado: a tool used to inform decision-making.
Other project work to be included soon. |
