Health impact assessments
Before Niagara Region builds a road, develops housing or changes a community plan, we ask: how will this affect people's health? Health impact assessments help us make decisions that are better for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to change.
What it is
A structured way to predict health effects before a project begins
A health impact assessment evaluates how a proposed project or policy might affect the health of the people who live, work or travel in the affected area — before any construction or decisions happen.
Why we do it
Health is shaped by more than health care
Where you live, how you travel, what you can afford, and what's available in your neighbourhood all affect your health. Health impact assessments ensure those connections are considered when we make planning and infrastructure decisions.
Social determinants of health
What we look at
These are the non-medical factors that research shows have the biggest influence on how healthy a community is.
Built environment
Economic development
Education
Family
Food security
Housing
Natural environment
Neighbourhood safety
Public services
Social supports
Transportation
Working conditions
How a health impact assessment works
The process
Every health impact assessment follows five steps, regardless of the size or complexity of the project.
The project is evaluated to determine whether an assessment is needed. Not every project qualifies; screening looks at how much the project could affect health and vulnerable populations. If the impact is likely to be significant, the process continues.
The team determines the scale of the assessment — rapid, intermediate or comprehensive — based on project size, cost, and the number of people affected. This step also identifies which health factors to focus on and who needs to be involved.
Data is gathered about the community and the project's potential effects. The team looks at both positive and negative impacts on health, drawing on existing research and, in more complex assessments, direct engagement with residents and stakeholders.
Practical, evidence-based recommendations are developed to either amplify positive health outcomes or reduce negative ones. Recommendations are prioritized based on feasibility, cost, and expected impact, then provided to decision-makers.
After the project is complete, the team evaluates whether the recommendations were implemented and whether they had the intended effect on community health. This helps improve future assessments.
Not every project needs the same depth
Assessment levels
The scope of an assessment is matched to the complexity and potential impact of the project.
Rapid assessment
Timeframe: 4-6 weeks
Data: Existing sources only
Stakeholder involvement: Limited
Intermediate assessment
Timeframe: 3-5 months
Data: Existing and some new data
Stakeholder involvement: Moderate
Comprehensive assessment
Timeframe: 6-18 months
Data: Existing, and extensive new qualitative and quantitative data
Stakeholder involvement: Extensive and structured
What kinds of projects are assessed and what changes
Types of projects that may be assessed
- Road reconstruction and new road corridors
- New parks and active transportation facilities
- Housing developments
- Urban design and community planning
- Secondary plan updates
Examples of recommendations
- Add separated bike lanes with space for street lighting and tree planting
- Include mixed land use to ensure access to healthy food
- Improve street lighting for people who walk, bike or use transit outside regular hours
- Require affordable and accessible housing within new developments
Health Impact Assessments Guidebook
The full guidebook details every step of the process, including tools, templates and scoring frameworks.
Download Health Impact Assessment Guidebook (PDF) Download Health Impact Assessment Appendix (PDF)