iStock_000009006529Medium familyOur Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity, in collaboration with the Arizona Alliance For Livable Communities, is sponsoring a new, two-day Health Impact Assessment (HIA) training course designed and presented by Habitat Health Impact Consulting.

The purpose of the training is to build the skills of local health departments, non-governmental organizations and other agencies to conduct HIA impact assessments in Arizona, with a particular focus on rural areas. The Pima County Health Department will host training in Tucson on February 22 and 23, and Coconino County Health Services will host the training in Flagstaff on February 25 and 26.

An HIA is a data-driven tool used to assess the potential health impacts of a policy, project, program, or proposal. The goal of an HIA is to ensure that health and health disparities are considered in decision-making using an objective and scientific approach, and that stakeholders are engaged in the process.

Health Impact Assessments are being conducted in Cochise, Pima, and Yavapai counties as well as by the Hualapai Tribe. To learn more about HIAs being completed in Arizona, contact Anissa Jonovich, Community Design Manager in the Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity.