''Health Impact Assessments Take on Broader Role in Cities and States''

New Projects Bringing Health Considerations into Education, Energy Policy, and Other Decisions

The Health Impact Project announced eight new grant recipients that will receive funding to conduct health impact assessments, or HIAs. The projects will bring health considerations into upcoming decisions on topics including education, sanitation infrastructure, and energy. The grantees were selected based on their response to a national call for proposals.

The Rise of HIAs in the United States

National Public Health Week

Greenville Conducts Health Impact Assessment

The city of Greenville, South Carolina recently completed a yearlong health impact assessment with support from Pew's Health Impact Project.

Funding Available in Minnesota to Identify Health Opportunities, Risks of Upcoming Decisions

The Health Impact Project announces a request for proposals (RFP) that will fund three grants of up to $100,000 each to identify and address potential health impacts of an upcoming decision in each of their communities or state through the use of health impact assessments (HIA).

''Construction That Focuses on Health of Residents''

The New York Times interviews Aaron Wernham, project director for the Health Impact Project, about the growing field of health impact assessments.

Training Available In Minnesota To Build Healthier Communities Through Health Impact Assessment

Minnesota organizations are invited to participate in an in-person training to learn about health impact assessments (HIAs). An HIA can help improve the well-being of local communities by incorporating health into decisions in other sectors.

''Report: Cutting School Junk Food Boosts Kids’ Health, Doesn’t Hurt School Budgets''

"A new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concludes that getting rid of junk food at school boosts kids’ health and doesn’t hurt schools financially. Even many snack food companies are on board."

''Group recommends raising nutrition standards in schools''

"'The evidence is clear and compelling,' said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe & Healthful Foods Project in a press release. 'Implementing strong national nutrition standards to make the snacks and beverages our children consume healthier is something that schools and districts can afford. The USDA should do all it can to finalize and help implement strong standards.'"

''Taking Health Into Account''

Aaron Wernham, director of the Health Impact Project, explains how by systematically assessing the health risks of development decisions upfront, health impact assessments can prevent costly and harmful mistakes.

''School lunches healthier, Administrators work to balance nutrition with appeal to students''

"A study released late last month delivers the message: Make competitive foods offered in schools healthier, too. The study was a collaboration between the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and came from two projects, the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project – the director, Jessica Donze Black, is a University of Delaware graduate – and the Health Impact Project."

Funding Available to Bring Health Into Decision in Non-Health Sectors

The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, announced a call for proposals for grants to conduct health impact assessments (HIAs). HIAs identify and address the health impacts of decisions in other sectors, such as planning roads, passing agriculture legislation, or siting schools.

Collaboration Examines Impact of Updated USDA Standards

Pew and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation collaborate to examine impact of updated USDA standards for snack and a la carte foods and beverages sold in schools.

''New school nutrition standards on horizon''

"A recent study has reaffirmed what local school officials already knew: Student health and school budgets can both benefit from higher nutrition standards."

''Health assessment calls for USDA nutrition standards in schools''

"The Health Impact Project, released Tuesday by the Kids’ Safe & Healthful Foods Project, was conducted to examine how the agency’s new policies will affect student nutrition and how new dietary standards would affect school revenues."