Healthy Parks, Healthy People US

Transcription

1 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Healthy Parks, Healthy People US Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. John Muir, 1912 Who will gainsay that the parks contain the highest potentialities of national pride, national contentment and national health? Stephen T. Mather

2 A Growing Body of Evidence Linking the importance of open spaces and natural places to human health and well being

3 Biologic Plausibility We evolved and are well adapted to out there We only recently moved to and are poorly adapted to in here

4 Current Research (NRPA - Parks and other Green Environments: Essential Components of a Healthy Human Habitat, Frances Kuo, 2010) Physical Patients recover faster in a room with a natural view (Ulrich 1984) CDC: More than one third of U.S. adults more than 72 million people and 17% of U.S. children are obese Age-Adjusted Estimates of the Percentage of Adults Who Are Obese

5 Current Research Mental Increased sense of well being, calming, reduced depression, elevated mood (multiple studies) A 20 minute walk in a green setting improves children's concentration (reduce ADHD?)

6 Current Research Social Green = Increased social cohesion and reduced crime Chicago study found buildings with higher levels of vegetation had 52% fewer total crimes (Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C., 2001)

7 National Park Service Fall Director Jon Jarvis establishes an NPS Health and Wellness Executive Steering Committee Task - Exploring the Role of NPS in Public Health

8 Team Executive Steering Committee CAPT Chuck Higgins (Chair) Chris Lehnertz Jerry Simpson Celinda Pena Dr. Gary Machlis Ali Kelley Howard Levitt (GOGA) Diana Allen (OPH) CDR David Wong, MD (OPH) Dr. Margaret Wild (BRMD) Staff (Office of Public Health) CAPT Chuck Higgins CDR David Wong, MD Diana Allen (one year detail from RTCA) Critical Internal Partners Park Units RTCA Commercial Services

9 Guiding Principles We promote health and well-being as an interrelated system linking human health to natural landscapes and all species (An approach called One Health) We re interested in activities that contribute to physical, mental and social well being Our priority strategic focus areas are: Research Demonstration Education and Communication Alignment and Synergy

10 Guiding Principles We seek expertise and resources from a wide range of partners in the public and private sectors Our work takes place both within and beyond park boundaries We encourage uses that promote the health of all species while avoiding those that impair resources Our commitment to improving public health will be mirrored in internal programs for our workforce Everyone should have equal access to open spaces and natural places

11 Acknowledging Past and Current Work Nurture and Support for Current Pilots NPS Mission (filters for deciding which projects to duplicate and magnify) Transferable National Movements Underserved Populations Leverage Measurable

12 Building Relationships

13 HPHP US San Francisco Meeting April 5-6, 2011 Seeking advice on the role of NPS in promoting the health and well being of the nation 90 invitees representing a broad array of sectors Followed by an intergovernmental discussion NPS Executive Steering Committee Planning Session

14 Ethos of Public Lands and Public Health As champions of people s health and of our local, state, and national park system, we ve come together to affirm our shared belief in the power of nature to improve the lives and well-being of Americans. We believe, as fellow humans, that people have a right, a duty, and a responsibility to interact with the world. We believe that doing so makes us all healthier, happier, and better custodians of our planet.

15 Directors Remarks See Handout I am declaring today as a part of our policy, our healthy foods strategy nationally for all of our concessioners I will be tasking our regional directors to work with their partners in this type of community to bring together and carry this discussion further.

16 A Plan of Action A complete report along with recommendations is due to the Director by June 6, 2011 Draft relies on the four focus areas Action items are near and long term (five years) Recommendations will include: Providing a permanent home for HPHP within the Office of Public Health Consider creating an Office of One Health by merging the Office of Public Health (VRP) and the Wildlife Health and Management Program (NRSS) To be shared and managed across AD s An all things health resource for regions and parks

17 A Plan of Action HPHP will rely on the strengths of our system Decentralized Park Unit Based Partnerships Current Mission illuminate and magnify positive effects the system already has on health and well being Success will mean new resources and new partnerships (health related) Success will bring a public recognition of the contribution this system makes to health and well being

18 Questions and Discussion