Municipal Public Health Planning Framework

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Page content: Introduction | How to use this document

1. MPHPF Introduction

Municipal Public Health Plans (MPHPs) are integral to any comprehensive strategic planning process undertaken by local governments. This new framework should ensure that MPHPs can inform other planning processes effectively and prevent duplication of planning effort at a local level. Promoting a renewed effort in local area planning, it provides the tools for working across a wide range of other local plans, including community health plans. MPHPs can also be used as a platform for funding.

The municipal public health planning framework aims to take the MPHP program into a new phase, by building on past achievements and revisiting the principles that established the program. It offers a balance between the practical and the theoretical, with links that draw on international and national research, policy and best practice. By placing explicit emphasis on the social, economic, natural and built environments, the framework makes public health a central focus for local government in its governance role that includes strategic planning, advocacy, coordination and facilitation of community participation.

It is acknowledged that patterns of public health have changed, and that there is a need for new strategies and structures to reflect this change. The overall health status of Victorians has improved over the past 20 years, but still varies according to where people live. There is increasing recognition that greater effort is needed in preventing ill health and creating wellbeing, especially among those who are most disadvantaged.

This framework for strategic public health planning systematically addresses individual, organisational, community, social, political, economic, and other environmental factors affecting health and wellbeing. To achieve municipal level change, the framework offers mechanisms for public health programs to improve the health of populations through personal, social and environmental action, rather than individual treatment.

How to use this document

• This framework for municipal public health planning draws on international and national research, policy and best practice.

• Evidence to support the planning philosophy appears as links to supporting documents, research and Web sites to explore. These links are in the right hand column on most pages.

• The document is divided into two parts, balancing the practical with the theoretical. Part A presents the new municipal public health planning framework. Part B offers a practical guide to planning.

• As with the planning approach being promoted, this document has been generated using an action planning approach. The aim is to improve this document through a continual process of feedback, evaluation, research and revision.

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