Take a Health-in-All-Policies Approach

On-going

Way Forward Commitment:

The attainment of good health is impacted by many factors including income level, education and the built environment. Our Government will build health impact considerations into all policy decisions, from infrastructure planning to labour market supports. This Health-in-All Policies approach will enable our Government to make all decisions in a manner that strengthens focus on measurable improvements in our health status. This will help prevent illness and create the healthy environments needed to support and promote not only healthy people, but also a healthy economy with improved outcomes in such areas as education, employment and crime prevention. Over the longer term, this approach will assist in reducing health care costs. This approach has also been successful in improving health outcomes in other jurisdictions.

What We’ve Accomplished:

  • A Health-in-All-Policies Unit within Executive Council that works closely with government departments to integrate health considerations into policy development with the long-term goal of improving health outcomes for the people of the province.
  • Implementation is ongoing to raise awareness of the social determinants of health with policy makers and to build capacity in departments to understand the influence and impact their policies and programs can have on health outcomes. Current activities of the Health-in-All Policies Unit include:
    • Supporting the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to coordinate implementation of Now is the Time recommendations by working with youth serving departments on recommendations requiring interdepartmental collaboration. The Education Action Plan Secretariat has been struck with the Health in All Policies Unit taking a leadership role provides guidance, advice, and oversight.  In February, the Secretariat was instrumental in coordinating a forum with officials from New Brunswick on their Integrated Service Delivery Model for Children and Youth to government departments, school districts, regional health authorities, and community agencies.
    • Partnering with the Department of Health and Community Services to develop new public health legislation for Newfoundland and Labrador.
    • Partnering with the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development on the development of a Healthy Living Action Plan.
    • Working with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment as it undertakes reviews of municipal legislation and environmental assessment legislation.
    • Supporting Service NL to develop policy to inform on social, economic, and environmental priorities for government procurement.
    • Consulting with other jurisdictions including South Australia, New Brunswick, and British Columbia on their approaches to improving the social determinants of health.