Environments for health: municipal public health planning framework

Municipal Public Health Plans (MPHPs) are integral to any comprehensive strategic planning process undertaken by local governments. This framework should ensure that MPHPs can inform other planning processes effectively and prevent duplication of planning effort at a local level. Promoting a renewed effort in local area planning, it provides the tools for working across a wide range of other local plans, including community health plans. MPHPs can also be used as a platform for funding.

The municipal public health planning framework aims to build on past achievements and revisiting the principles that established the program. It balances the practical and the theoretical, with links that draw on international and national research, policy and best practice. By explicitly emphasising the social, economic, natural and built environments, the framework makes public health a central focus for local government in its governance role that includes strategic planning, advocacy, coordination and facilitation of community participation.

This framework for strategic public health planning systematically addresses individual, organisational, community, social, political, economic, and other environmental factors affecting health and well-being. To achieve municipal-level change, the framework offers mechanisms for public health programs to improve the health of populations through personal, social, and environmental action rather than individual treatment.

Evaluation of the Environments for Health Framework

The Evaluation of Environments for health municipal public health and wellbeing planning framework (summary) (2006) highlights the main findings of a comprehensive evaluation of the framework conducted in 2006.