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The Healthy Development Measurement Tool (HDMT) was originally developed in San Francisco as a comprehensive evaluation metric to consider the health needs in urban development projects and plans. The HDMT is now nationally recognized as a best practice model by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC). The HDMT is also a tool that facilitates participatory action research and empowers underserved and underrepresented members of the community so that they understand how their surrounding environment impacts health, while concurrently providing them with the tools and capacity to engage in social change. This project recognizes that information about our health and environment is powerful and can help to bridge the cultural divide and result in creating a healthier community for all.
There are six elements of the HDMT: 1) Environmental Stewardship, 2) Sustainable and Safe Transportation, 3) Social Cohesion, 4) Public Infrastructure/Access to Goods and Services, 5) Adequate and Healthy Housing, and 6) Healthy Economy. In addition Demographic Data, Geographic Data and Epidemiological Data is being collected.These general topics provide a framework of over 120 indicators that are researched by a collaborative team in order to assess conditions that impact the health of the community. The project is commissioned by the East Palo Alto Community Health Roundtable, led by Mayor Ruben Abrica, and supported by Collective Roots. Funding for this project is provided by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Kaiser Permanente Foundation.
For the very latest on the Healthy Development Measurement Tool implementation in East Palo Alto, please visit www.epahealth.info.
