The Initiative
for Healthy Infrastructure (iHi) is a project of the
State University of New York at Albany designed to help communities create
physical environments that support healthy, active lifestyles.
‘Healthy Infrastructure’ is a new way of describing the connection
between facilities for walking, bicycling and physical fitness as an integrated
part of transportation, recreation and community quality of life. The initiative
includes teaching, research, policy development, public outreach and planning in
a cross-disciplinary approach. Specific
efforts in the iHi program include developing county-level Healthy
Infrastructure Plans, establishing a Resource Center to provide technical
support, and hosting a biennial Healthy Infrastructure Conference. The iHi team
will collaborate with health, community planning and transportation interests to
apply health oriented intervention models such as diagnosis, prescriptions and
diets in the development of public works programs that benefit active
lifestyles. iHi is supported
by funding from the New York State Department of Health, in partnership with the
Research Foundation of the State University of New York and the University at
Albany Department of Geography and Planning.
Jeff Olson, R.A., Co - P.I.
University at Albany - Department of Geography and
Planning
1400 Washington Avenue, ES 230
Albany, New York 12222
Telephone # (518) 442-4778
e-mail: trails2k@aol.com
Catherine Lawson, Ph.D., Co – P.I.
University at Albany - Department of Geography and
Planning
1400 Washington Avenue, ES 218
Albany, New York 12222
Telephone # (518) 442-4775
Fax # (518) 442-4742
e-mail: lawsonc@albany.edu
County Level Healthy Infrastructure Plans
These
model plans will be developed in cooperation with county officials, health
organizations, hospitals, insurers, public works agencies, recreation programs
and community leaders. Counties
will be selected from criteria developed to identify at-risk communities, with a
target for a diverse range of urban, rural and suburban locations. In the first
year of the initiative, 2 prototype county plans were developed.
In year 2, four (4) new county plans will be developed.
Statewide
Resource Center (under construction)
A
central resource is being developed to facilitate the efforts of similar
programs, including but not limited to Healthy Heart, Safe Routes to Schools,
Eat Well Play Hard, and other initiatives.
Local communities who otherwise would not have access to resources will
be able to call, fax or email the center and receive valuable information and
guidance in support of their projects.
Healthy Infrastructure Symposium
This biennial event will
serve as a catalyst for creating livable communities statewide.
Following the lead of the recent NY State Walkable Communities
Conference, participants will be given the opportunity to network, learn and
share common experiences while expanding the knowledge base of best practices
and techniques. In the coming year, the conference steering committee will meet,
determine the conference program and format, develop marketing materials, and
host the conference.
New York State Department of Health
http://www.health.state.ny.us
State University of New York at Albany –
Department of Geography and Planning http://www.albany.edu/gp/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention –
National Center for Environmental Health http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/
NY State Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Clearinghouse http://www.nysgis.state.ny.us
U.S. Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center
http://www.walkinginfo.org
New York State Association of County Health
Officials (NYSACHO)
New York Parks and Conservation Association http://www.nypca.org/
New York City Parks Department: http://www.nycgovparks.org
New York Bicycling Coalition http://www.nybc.net