Lee Department Health receives national grant for Health Impact Assessment in Tice

We are pleased that the Lee County Health Department is working on the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in partnership with the Tice community and other stakeholders, such as BikeWalkLee. This project is on the cutting edge of HIA studies that are rapidly emerging throughout the U.S. as a valuable component of the decision making process. Among other major private foundations, the use of HIAs is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports two key directions by the U.S. Surgeon General, and is part of the Centers for Disease Control’s Healthy Community Design Initiative. With all of the major funders and national agencies behind the use of the HIA process, this project’s findings will certainly attract national attention.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2014
HEALTH OFFICIALS RECEIVE NATIONAL GRANT
LEE COUNTY— The Florida Department of Health in Lee County was one of three national
recipients of a Health Impact Assessment grant offered by the National Association of
Community & City Health Officials. The award will be used in the Tice community of Fort Myers
to conduct an intermediate Health Impact Assessment to supplement data collected earlier this
year in a preliminary study.

“We will provide the data about the health effects of proposed road connections or lack of
connections, and redevelopment plans to decision makers,” said Geordie Smith, environmental manager with DOH-Lee and the project manager. “The planners can use this information to link the health needs into the neighborhood design.”

The preliminary assessment asked residents about their concerns related to health and safety.
Those results showed traffic safety was a primary concern, along with air quality and social
engagement.

Questions asked in the intermediate assessment include the health impact of proposals to
narrow main roadways, lower speed limits and install traffic calming devices such as pedestrian
cross walks, sidewalks and bike paths. The surveys delve into the impact of those proposals on
health issues such as safety, physical activity, health care access, emergency response, mental
health and crime reduction.

DOH-Lee is partnering with the Tice Health Impact Assessment Team. The team includes
members from Florida Gulf Coast University and NACCHO. The work is a part of the Protocol
for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health, which was developed by
NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The assessment is expected to be completed by mid-June. For more information go to
www.leechd.com.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people
in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.

 Contact: Diane Holm, PIO
(239) 332-9561
 (850) 519-5728