Improving the community environment to support active living and good health for all
Each person’s opportunity for health depends on more than their access to healthcare services. Health and well-being is influenced by a multitude of factors, including the spaces in which community members live, learn, work and play within both the built and natural environments. When people have access to places, resources, and programs for active living, they are more empowered to engage in physical activity as an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Low-income and underserved communities often have fewer of these opportunities, further exacerbating health inequities among those most in need. Many of the most effective strategies to advance health equity and improve health outcomes involve strengthening the policies, partnerships and programs that support health environments and active living for everyone.
Transforming communities to include networks of safe walking and bicycling routes, enhanced transportation options, and sufficient recreational amenities can have a positive impact on the health of the population. These types of environmental changes require cross-sector partnerships among those involved with policy development and implementation related to land use, transportation, and parks.
By promoting the concept of health in all policies, the Partnership aims to influence decision-makers to consider the “health-equity and sustainability consequences of various policy options during the policy options during the policy development process.” The integration of health considerations into policies, plans, and procedures is essential to assuring that opportunities for optimal health and well-being are available to all in the Fairfax community.
Community Health Improvement Plan
The strategies included in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) advance a comprehensive approach to improving the community environment to support active living and good health for all.
See the Health Environment and Active Living goals, objectives, and progress.