MountainElements--the regional Health Impact Assessment for Western North Carolina--is complete!
MountainWise is thrilled to have partnered with the Southwestern Commission to conduct a first-of-its-kind, eight-county health impact assessment (HIA), called MountainElements. This process began in 2013 and helped to merge interests of health and planning professions in order to help the region share its success stories and preserve the area for future generations.
MountainElements evaluated proposed actions related to planning and policy around the built environment, with recommendations based in the region's context and heritage. As a result, the project merged the conversations about planning and health to identify policies, plans, programs and projects that create a healthier region, one that builds capacity through counties, towns, non-profits, and other stakeholders to improve health.
Click here to view the final
MountainElements Health Impact Assessment. In addition to the regional document, county specific chapters are available for counties and municipalities to consider adopting as an addendum to existing or upcoming Comprehensive Plans. Contact Sarah Tennyson (
sa...@mountainwise.org) for your county's chapter.
How to use MountainElements:
1. Integrate County Chapters into Comprehensive Plans
2. Leverage MountainElements for Grants and Partnerships
3. Use to help guide Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP)
4. Identify success stories in other counties to help plan local initiatives
5. Implement recommendations in your community
THANK YOU for providing feedback, support and direction throughout the process. We couldn't have done it without you! If you need support or further guidance in implementation efforts please contact Sarah Tennyson (
sa...@mountainwise.org) and we'd happy to help!