Healthy Communities Program

Under this program, MCPHD works to incorporate health priorities into City-County plans, processes, and projects, to reduce chronic disease levels in Marion County. Our Healthy Communities Planner engages in a number of activities to achieve this, including:

  • Encouraging land uses in Marion County that promote physical activity levels by reviewing all City-County land use or rezoning petitions and providing recommendations.
  • Representing the health department and chronic disease reduction priorities on all important City-County planning efforts by sitting on stakeholder groups and project teams.
  • Developing training and presentations for Health Department and City- County government staff on “Health in all Policies” and the relationship between urban planning and health priorities.

 

Marion County Social Determinants of Health Story Map 

Marion County Public Health Department’s Healthy Communities Section collaborated with Indiana University – Indianapolis Polis Center’s SAVI team in 2023 to create the Marion County Social Determinants Map that explores the sociodemographic, public health, economic, and other factors that have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Story Maps use a mixture of maps, images, narrative, and other media to tell stories. This map examines factors around the following domains:

  • Life Expectancy
  • Education
  • Financial Security
  • Housing and Wellness
  • Transit Dependence
  • Food / Nutrition Security
  • Health and Healthcare
  • Built Environment