Watch a video of our PlanH webinar on New tools to build social connection in multi-unit housing. The April 3, 2024 webinar, hosted by PlanH Delivery Lead Connie Allsopp, featured City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan and consultants Madeleine Hebert from Happy Cities and Michelle Hoar from Hey Neighbour Collective. They discussed their multi-phased…
Tools & Resources from the April 3, 2024 Healthy Public Policy Webinar titled New tools to build social connection in multi-unit housing.
By Monica DeVidi Almost every day news breaks of another climate emergency occurring somewhere in the world. Hurricanes, forest fires, flooding, drought and extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe and are having a devastating impact on communities across the province. These events undoubtedly impact physical health through injury, disease, food and water…
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) partnered with BC Healthy Communities to create a series of guides (https://bchealthycommunities.ca/index.php/child-and-youth-mental-well-being-resources/) to help local governments understand how to promote the mental well-being of children and youth through existing roles and assets. The guides include research, examples and information sources to inform and inspire action on key protective factors that young people need…
Document contains a series of links to Tools & Resources for the BC Healthy Communities/PlanH Navigating the Public Policy Pathway webinar.
Relationships are one of the strongest predictors of children’s well-being throughout life. Studies have also found that a strong sense of belonging is associated with high self-rated mental health, even when controlling for geography and socio-economic status. Local governments can strengthen social connectedness and belonging for young people through initiatives that enable neighbourhood social cohesion,…
Safety includes both actual and perceived physical, psychological, and social safety experienced at home, school, and in community. Local governments can work towards creating public areas that are safe for children and youth while also implementing policies that respond to larger societal threats like racism, discrimination, poverty, inequality, and climate change. This is the link…
Play is essential for child development. It promotes mental well-being through brain development, stress relief, physical activity, and time outdoors. Local governments can create and maintain spaces and provide opportunities for all kinds of play – and not just in typical designated play places and programs. This is the link for Protective Factor: Play. You…
When children are given opportunities to participate, they feel a sense of belonging and agency; and, that they are part of something bigger than themselves. They also gain skills that allow for more meaningful contributions to society. Local governments can create welcoming and inclusive environments that include children and youth in planning, decision-making, and governance,…
The introduction section in the guide gives a brief overview of how local governments influence the mental well-being of children and youth within their scope and existing mechanisms, how local governments benefit from this, the critical role of quality adults in young people’s lives and the importance of reducing disparities. Given that all local…