What is Health in All Policies?

Health in All Policies (HiAP) recognizes that the health of Californians is largely determined by the physical, social, economic and service environments in which we live, learn, work and play. ¹  HiAP is a collaborative approach to improve population health by incorporating health considerations into decision making in all sectors and policy areas. HiAP brings together a cross sector of partners to consider how their work influences or affects health and how we can improve health while advancing shared goals. HiAP is the framework used in Monterey County to address health inequities and focuses on identifying the root causes of poor health. This approach is endorsed by the World Health Organization and implemented by the State of California through the Health in All Policies Task Force comprised of 19 state departments and agencies.

Why do we need HiAP?

• Chronic disease is the leading cause of premature death for Californians. In Monterey County, heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicides and accidents lead the list of causes for premature death (Monterey County Health Department, 2011).
• Traditional approaches used to address and manage these preventable health issues cost the United Stated $1.3 trillion annually. In California, 80% of healthcare dollars are spent on 20% of the population mainly due to chronic disease management (California Office of the Governor, http://gov.ca.gov/news).
• Despite rising health care costs, health inequities have widened particularly in communities that have traditionally been disenfranchised and have experienced socioeconomic disadvantages. Yet it can be difficult to adopt healthier behaviors when one’s neighborhood lacks key infrastructure and supports (such as safe streets).
• HiAP recognizes that health and prevention are impacted by policies that are managed by government and non-governmental agencies. HiAP makes health the linking factor to bringing people from across all sectors together to identify win-win strategies to address some of the rooted health issues that impact our communities.

Our Work in Action

Brief Historical Experience of Racial Groups in Monterey County Timeline

The Brief Historical Experience of Racial Groups in Monterey County Timeline attempts to chronologically document key historical stories and events that impacted Native Americans, African-Americans, and immigrant residents in Monterey County. This timeline highlights some of the root causes, including structural and institutional racist policies, that directly resulted in the generational wealth gap experienced by Communities of Color. We will update the timeline to reflect additional information as significant events occur. Inquiries regarding the timeline may be sent to Vicente Lara at larav@countyofmonterey.gov or Christina Santana at santanac@countyofmonterey.gov. Acknowledgment to Virginia Murillo, our stellar CSUMB intern, who worked on developing this project as part of her capstone requirement

HiAP Salinas Council

• Housing in Monterey County – Fact Sheet – August 2015
• The Road to Health Equity in Our Community: Social Determinants of Health in Monterey County
• Proposed General Plan Economic Development Element for the City of Salinas, California
• Alisal Vibrancy Plan for the City of Salinas, California

Priority Areas

• Civic Infrastructure
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Parks

HiAP Seaside Leadership Council

• QI Success Story– Creating Safe Routes To School & Increase Physical Activity

HiAP South County

Via Salinas Valley (Active Transportation Program Committee)

• Via Salinas Valley: Pathways to Health Through Active Transportation Update from Transportation Agency for Monterey County to Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee

City of Gonzales

• Incorporating a Health Element in the City of Gonzales General Plan 
• Gonzales Tribune - New general health plan adopted by city council 3Aug2018

 Other Projects

• Redlining in Monterey County

How can I get involved?

Join our email list to participate in education, training and action teams. For more information contact Monterey County Planning, Evaluation and Policy Unit: Vicente Lara –  831-755-4390 or larav@countyofmonterey.gov

HiAP Tools and Resources

ChangeLab Solutions 

Health is one of our most precious resources. People everywhere want their families and communities to be healthy and to thrive. But what does it really take to make that vision a reality? The fact is, health is influenced by the interaction of many factors. It is now widely accepted that the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age have a profound effect on how healthy we will be over the course of our lives.

To achieve a healthy community, every part of government has a role to play. That’s the idea behind Health in All Policies: to adopt a collaborative approach to policymaking and improve the health of a community. By recognizing shared goals, collaborating, and coordinating their efforts, public agencies can work with the communities they serve to ensure public policies and public resources address local needs and improve health outcomes.

This comprehensive toolkit is intended for anyone interested in building healthier communities through more collaborative and efficient policymaking, and includes best practices and lessons learned from community leaders who are doing exactly that.

The toolkit includes the following components:

• From Start to Finish: How to Permanently Improve Government Through Health in All Policies

• Commitment to Change: HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES MODEL POLICIES

  • Model Health in All Policies Ordinance
  • Model Health in All Policies Resolution
  • Health in All Policies in General Plans

• Collaborative Health: A HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES PRESENTATION

  • Collaborative Health Presentation

Public Health Institute

Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments was created by the Public Health Institute, the California Department of Public Health, and the American Public Health Association in response to growing interest in using collaborative approaches to improve population health by embedding health considerations into decision-making processes across a broad array of sectors. The Guide draws heavily on the experiences of the California Health in All Policies Task Force and incorporates information from the published and gray literature and interviews with people across the country. 

The guide was developed through funding from the American Public Health Association and The California Endowment.

• Health in All Polices: A Guide for State and Local Government

• Introduction to Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments 

¹ California Department of Public Health, Health in All Policies Report to the Strategic Growth Council, 12/3/2010.