Healthy Community Design: What policies could your municipality adopt to help everyone be more food secure? Could you adopt policies that enhance people’s physical access to healthy foods? Policies that support a healthy local food system or policies that ensure healthy food production, processing, distribution, as well as policies that include retail and consumption components. In April 2010 the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit released a new resource for municipalities in Simcoe and Muskoka, called Healthy Community Design: Policy Statements for Official Plans. It contains health related suggestions for municipal official plan policies and implementation activities. This resource will assist municipalities in creating healthy and complete communities. This document’s five sections are based on key health issues affected by the built environment including food access, environment, injury and safety, physical activity and sun safety, and social cohesion and well-being. As stated in the resource, “It will take the support, energy, and assets of the entire community at various times, and for various initiatives to create healthy places to live.” All these policy actions contribute to the long-term health and well-being of a community. The resource is posted on the Healthy Places section of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website where it can be downloaded in full or by section: http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/JFY/OurCommunity/healthyplaces/Healthydesign.aspx For more information contact Your Health Connection at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org
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