ABSTRACT
EPHT Data and Community Collaboration Effects Healthy Built Environment Change [7]
Authors: Melissa Frisbie1 Steve Forand1, Catherine Bullwinkle1
1New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY
Background:
The Cornhill neighborhood in Utica, NY is an urban, lower-income neighborhood with a large refugee population. Residents in this neighborhood, particularly the refugee population, struggle with a lack of access to recreational facilities and healthy food which may lead to health disparities. The Oneida County Health Department turned to the New York State Department of Health’s ATSDR funded Brownfields Land Reuse Project for assistance in addressing health disparities in Cornhill.
How was Tracking involved?
County and state staff worked with residents to identify strategies to improve health in the neighborhood. NYS Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) was sought out for expertise with health data and community indicators. EPHT and the Brownfields staff worked together to compile health indicators that provided residents with a snapshot of their community’s health. EPHT data helped identify health disparities in the neighborhood including high rates of diabetes and hypertension.
Staff engaged residents in discussions about changes that could be made to their built environment to support healthier lifestyles. This process rekindled the idea of building a neighborhood park, which became a priority for the Cornhill Neighborhood Association and residents. A former elementary school had been demolished and the site sat vacant for over a decade. Residents had long wanted to use this space as a park or playground for their children to play safely. Unfortunately, a lack of city funding hindered the development of the park.
The health indicator package was used to support a Regional Economic Development Council funding application that demonstrated the need for a safe, green space for exercise and play. As a result of the strengthened application, the city of Utica was awarded $500,000, and the city further committed $350,000 to support the park. Site work will begin later this year and Cornhill residents expect to have their park completed in 2016.
Lessons Learned:
The use of community health indicators was instrumental in educating the community on chronic disease prevention and informing policy makers of health disparities in the neighborhood. Collaboration with state and county programs resulted in grant funding for community projects that benefit the health of the community.