Links HIA Report:       Background Reports:      [Citation and link to full HIA (may be internal or external)]      [Name of Institution (Hperlinked)] Contact

Scope and Methods
The ENCHIA  planning committee sustained dialogue in a Community Council structure using collaborative, consensus-based decision-making methods; the Council was to determine the content and focus of the HIA; while the SFDPH’s role was to guide and staff the assessment process, gather data, conduct research, and produce group products; all products to be reviewed, critiqued, and amended based on Council deliberation.

The Project goals were to:

1.  Collectively identify and analyze the likely impacts of land use plans and zoning controls on community concerns, including housing, jobs and public infrastructure;
2.  Provide recommendations for land use policies and zoning controls that promoted community priorities;
3.  Promote meaningful public involvement and consensus in land use policy-making;
4.  Develop capacity for inter-agency working relationships; and
5.  Illustrate the feasibility of HIA methods

Expected products include:

• Consensus positions on the health resources needed from the Eastern Neighborhoods planning;
• Recommendations for land use controls, policies, and design strategies to promote and protect health through planning and zoning;
• Monitoring indicators to track long-term progress toward healthy development.

Summary of findings
The ENCHIA process was successful in a number of significant ways.  It broadened participant understanding of how development affects health, built new relationships among participants, and created a practical tool for evaluating land use plans and projects.  ENCHIA also showed that a government-led public process could sustain diverse participation, employ consensus techniques, and shift participant focus from problems to solutions.

Updated 6/23/2009