US Case Studies

Abstract

This chapter reviews four case studies, discussing the methods and outcomes associated with each. These case studies represent comprehensive health impact assessments (HIAs) conducted in the USA, each of which has had significant policy implications. The first case study is an HIA of the Atlanta BeltLine, an ambitious redevelopment plan intended to transform Atlanta, Georgia into a city connected by transit, trails, and green space, with substantial potential health benefits. This HIA demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinarity and collaboration, as well as key factors relating to projects’ timeframes. The second case study describes an HIA assessing the potential health implications of federal legislation (the Healthy Families Act of 2009) for the state of Maine. The assessment drew on peer-reviewed and empirical research, applied analysis of available statistics, and used a public involvement process that included focus group interviews. The third case study is an HIA that examined the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and assessed the potential health impacts of rising energy costs on children living in low-income households. It incorporated, among other components, an extensive review of the literature and interviews with key stakeholders, and ultimately identified a number of key causal pathways between energy prices and health risks. The final case study is an HIA of California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act. The HIA incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and made substantial recommendations for monitoring and adaptive management.