WELCOME TO THE HIA GATEWAY
The HIA Gateway (funded by the Department of Health, England) provides access to resources and information on Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for those new to HIA, practitioners of HIA and those wishing to commission HIAs or some other Impact Assessment process (i.e. Integrated Impact Assessment, Mental Well-being Impact Assessment and health-related Strategic Environmental Assessment). It is both a National and International site.
Ever attempt has been made to address the issue of copyright but if you are concerned that copyright has been infringed on any of your material please contact the
HIA Gateway.
News
Funding opportunities with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Funding opportunites from the National Institute for Health Research on: Local Sustainable Transport Funds, and Evidence synthesis. Closing date 2nd April 2012.
Horizon 2020: European Commission Programme
Horizon 2020 programme supports and funds research mainly in businesses and industry to bridge the gap between research and appilication. UK examples include: development of environmentally trains, reduction in freshwater usage by industry, and impact of nitrogen on human health. May be of interest if undertaking some HIAs.
The 2012 HIA International Conference will be held in Quebec City, Canada, 29th to 31st August 2012. Conference Theme is "How HIA Matters in Health in All Policies" and will focus on Institutionalisation of HIA; Diversity of practices; and Evaluation, research, and ethics. Registration and call for abstracts will open at the end of January.
To view papers from the previous HIA International Conference in 2011 held in Spain, see the official conference website. Previous Conference programmes and presentations can be found in a collection "International HIA Conferences".
The HIA bibliography has been updated from July and has 49 new references.
Some Recent Additions
Understanding walking and cycling:
The overall aim of the research was to gain a clear understanding of the factors that structure everyday travel in England, to investigate the reasons why people do and do not undertake short everyday journeys on foot or by bike. Many people who would like to engage in more active travel fail to do so due to a combination of factors. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, 2011.
Health Impact of Wind Turbines (Canada)
The report presents findings and recommendations from impact assessments, research studies, and opinions of individuals and organizations for and against wind power. New information, research studies, and further impact assessments will continue to be generated. Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit, Ontario, 2008.
Sustainable development and health inequalities (SDC)
the paper focuses on how the NHS and its partners can contribute to reducing health inequalities, and how, in tackling the environmental determinants of health, decision makers can help prevent ill health, reduce inequalities and reduce the resource intensity and cost of the NHS. Sustainable development offers a framework for tackling health inequalities. Sustainable Development Commission, 2011.
Health and the environment: compilation of evidence
Given the abundance and diversity of literature, it is useful to summarise and increase access to information regarding health and the environment. This report draws upon key studies and synthesises the main findings related to a selected list of 15 environmental factors. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,2011.
HIA of Lewis Wind Farm proposals
A presentation of the proposed wind farm development on the Isle of Lewis. No direct benefits to health were identified although the authors concluded that these developments have the potential to be of benefit to community health and wellbeing, they also have the potential to cause significant negative health impacts. NHS Western Isles, 2005.
Designing Social Sustainability: online Toolkit
An online Toolkit to designing sustainable communities. this has been created to support professionals and practitioners who are working on community regeneration and planning new neighbourhoods. The toolkit contains 10 “ingredients” and includes case studies, evidence and practical advice about designing socially sustainable neighbourhoods. Young Foundation & Future Communiites, 2011
Conferences and Events in 2012
Energy Future: The Role of Impact Assessment, 27 May - 1 June 2012, Portugal.
Organised by IAIA (32nd annual conference) the conference will consider the role of IA in energy in the short term and for future generations. The conference will be structured around four thematic streams: renewable energy, fossil fuels, electric powered transportation, and electric power.
12th HIA International Conference, August, Quebec, 2012
The 12th International HIA Conference will be held in Quebec City, Canada, provisional dates are 30th-31st August 2012. The theme for the conference is, “From One Continent to Another: How HIA Matters in Health in All Policies”.
For more events and courses, see Networks & Events.
Want to join in the discussions on HIA?
Join the HIANET email discussion group - the international HIA mailing list for the methodological and practical advancement of HIA in the development of healthy public policies, projects and programmes. To join go to jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=HIANET and follow the instructions. If you wish to post anything please use: . Membership of the list will be processed/approved by IMPACT. If you have any problems please contact Andy Pennington .
Want to join an online forum and resource for MWIA?
Join the new online "Community of Practice" site for MWIA for those interested and trained in MWIA to network, share experience, keep up to date and to promote events, new knowledge and debate MWIA. This will complement the existing email network, newsletter and HIA Gateway web site. The “Community of Practice” site is part the Communities of practice for local government website that supports collaboration across local government and the public sector. To register and join the site go to www.communities.idea.gov.uk and follow the instructions.
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If you register with the HIA Gateway you will get a monthly email listing all the resources added to the site over the previous month. This will cover reports, guides, tools, links, evidence, events, training courses and more.
HIA Training Courses in 2012
HIA 5 Day Training Courses, starting 18th June & 12th November, Liverpool
Two 5 day courses organised by IMPACT. The Course is aimed at all those whose current and future work is likely to require an understanding of the theory and practice of health impact assessment, for both commissioners and practitioners. HIA as presented on this course is based on a socio-environmental model of health, with an emphasis on qualitative evidence. Early bird registration is now available for delegates registering before 31st March. Contact IMPACT for more details and booking.
5-day course in Public Mental Health, 6-12th February 2012, Warwick.
A 5-day course in Public Mental Health held at Warwick Medical School. This new Public Mental Health course will provide you with a theoretical and practical grounding in current issues in public mental health and includes coverage of MWIA. The development of this module has been sponsored by the West Midlands Teaching Public Health Network and is supported by the National Mental Health Development Unit Wellbeing Programme. The course is designed for professionals with an interest in public mental health.
If you are running any HIA Training Courses or courses relating to aspects of HIA and would like to have them advertised here, please send details to the HIA Gateway .
Online HIA Training Courses or related resources
Healthy Places
A free online resource developed by the National Heart Forum and funded by the Department of Health (2011). Healthy Places explains how planning law and regulation can be used by both planning and health practitioners to create and support healthy communities. See Guides for more information.
HIA for planners
Online course on HIA developed and funded by the University of the West of England (2011). The fee for each topic is £40 (excluding assessment).
Health considerations are already a requirement to be considered, arising out of many policies in Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance (PPG). See Training courses for more information.
Online HIA Introductory Training Course
Developed and organised by IMPACT. The course is intended for those who wish to understand only the main principles of HIA (not comprehensive detail); those who need to know enough to commission HIAs or to receive a HIA report, but not carry out a HIA. Next course starts end of February.See Training courses for more information.
E-learning course: Health in SEA
Free online course on health in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Developed by the West Midlands Public Health Observatory and funded by the Department of Health (2010) as part of the "Informing Healthier Choices" programme. This section contains materials exploring how health should be dealt with in SEA. See Training courses for more information.
HIA of mining projects
The course is free but donations are encouraged. Developed at the WHO-PAHO Collaborating Center on Environmental and Occupational HIA and Surveillance at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Canada and funded by Health Canada (2009). This online course consists of 7 modules on the fundamental aspects of HIA and covers the basic principles and major steps in a mining project’s health impact assessment. See Training courses for more information.
Introduction to HIA
A free interactive e-learning course by NHS Health Scotland (2007), an excellent short introduction to HIA. The course contains six modules, each of which takes up to 2 hours to complete. It includes three case studies, and there is a downloadable workbook for you to record your findings as you work through these. See Training courses for more information.
Gateway News
The gateway continues to be well used. Are you finding the resources you want in the gateway. If you have suggestions for improving the site please mail them to
Visits to the Gateway:
December - 1768 visits
November - 2556 visits
October - 2520 visits
September - 1907 visits
August - 1776 visits
July - 1797 visits
Wanted
Have you completed any HIA, SEA, IIA or MWIA reports, written any good guides or developed any tools for HIA or other Impact Assessments?
If so please share them with the HIA community by sending them to the HIA gateway .
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