The New Orleans Department of Health and Human Services kicked off the first of five community health meetings on Tuesday, part of an effort to collect data and public feedback to shape a new health improvement plan under the administration of Mayor Helena Moreno.<\/p>\n
The meeting, held at Gernon Brown Recreation Center, is part of an 18-month process to understand the city\u2019s health needs. It is the third time the agency, which until recently was known as the New Orleans Health Department, has undertaken the planning process, which typically occurs every five years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need your voice,\u201d said Flint Mitchell, deputy director for community engagement. \u201cYour voice will help us determine what we want to prioritize in this round of the community health improvement process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Better food, safer parks<\/p>\n
About a dozen residents sat in folding chairs in the community center, responding to live polling prompts on their phones about what changes would make their neighborhoods healthier places to live.<\/p>\n
The results, displayed on a projected screen in real time, showed that healthier food that is easier to get and repairs to public spaces like parks and playgrounds are top priorities for the group. Other common responses included safe sidewalks and trails, sex education in schools, more nutrition education, health care that is easier to access and safer shopping districts.<\/p>\n
Latonya Mason, 40, wanted broader access to fruits and vegetables, including for people who don\u2019t quite meet the cutoff for state and federal programs that provide extra incentives for purchases at farmer\u2019s markets.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know folks who don\u2019t have low income, but they cant afford to get to those types of places,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n
She also wants regular neighborhood cleanups, saying that litter affects physical and mental health.<\/p>\n
Another resident who lives near the Fair Grounds said the city has invested a lot in bike lanes, but they are not always maintained.<\/p>\n
Attendees also described positive impacts to their health. They cited the city\u2019s culture of helping neighbors, walking paths, vaccine programs, free fitness classes and initiatives to plant more trees.<\/p>\n
In a final poll, attendees ranked what the thought were the most significant factors affecting public health. Top choices included pressures related to rent, tourism shifts, job loss and short-term rentals, aging water infrastructure and climate threats.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next<\/p>\n
A second round of community meetings will be held over the summer, when the department will present what they\u2019ve learned from the meetings before finalizing three to five priorities ahead of a report to be published later this year.<\/p>\n