The Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section of the American Public Health Association is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009. It was formed in 1969 and aims to address issues of health planning, policy development, and community health. The section currently has over 1,700 members and focuses on topics like health systems, built environments, and using evidence-based practices. It has grown significantly from its original formation and continues to advocate for improving population health.

1. Celebrating 40 Years Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section American Public Health Association Compiled by Section Members in 2009

2. In 2009, the Community Health Planning and Policy Development (CHPPD) Section is among the 26 sections of the American Public Health Association with about 1,700 members. The section has five standing committees: governance, membership engagement, program planning, policy development and student involvement.

3. Students at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego, California (USA), November 2008. Students in the Community Health Planning and Policy Development (CHPPD) Section are very active in all committees and projects.

4. In the first newsletter, Mr. Schlesinger wrote: “ To some it may seem that the establishment in November 1969 of a Community Health Planning Section was the swift response of the Association to an idea currently fashionable. To others who had pressed for the organization of a section in 1960, it seemed like an action long overdue; to the handful of people who had met yearly since 1943 at APHA and at the National Conference for Social Welfare to discuss goals, methods, and hardships of health planning the numbers of people now involved and pressing for Section formation seemed almost unbelievable.” Richard H. Schlesinger, MPH, was the first chair of Community Health Planning Section that was formed 1969 at the Philadelphia APHA Annual Meeting. The words “Policy Development” were added in 1990. Photo courtesy: Timothy Bobo

5. Leona Baumgartner, MD, 1902-1991, was among the first Community Health Planning Governing Councilors . Dr. Baumgartner was the first woman commissioner of the New York City Department of Health. Photo from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_28.html Community Health Planning was then the 17 th section and had 360 members .

6. Against the backdrop of historical events in 1969, the Community Health Planning was born. President Nixon had been elected the 36 th President and Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. Close up of foot print from 1 st step http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/apollo11/index.html `

7. Richard H. Schlesinger (second from left) meets with President Lyndon Johnson. Photo courtesy: Timothy Bobo Mr. Schlesinger, MPH, was a key member of the National Commission on Community Health Services that produced the nationally acclaimed report “Health is a Community Affair” which was accepted by President Johnson, and considered to be the preamble to the comprehensive health planning legislation passed in 1969.

8. The 1970s saw the rise and decline of federal support of community health services and health services planning. Concerns with public health availability, accessibility, quality and cost of health services fueled the rise. The CON was first started in the mid-1970s in response to a Federal Government mandate to control hospital costs. In 36 states a Certificate of Need (CON) must be obtained before a new healthcare facility is allowed to open.

9. The National Commission on Community Health Services report introduced the concept of high quality health care, healthy environment as a civil right and the recommendation for a single system for health care delivery. In 2009, the Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section has built upon the legacy, and co-sponsored a proposed APHA policy on “Public Health’s Critical Role in Health Reform”. Photo of hospital model by photographer Theodor Horydczak, Library of Congress

10. The internet was born on October 29, 1969, with a crash. Charley Kline, a graduate used a terminal at UCLA to contact Stanford Research Institute. When Kline typed the "G" in "login" the network crashed. In 2009, members of the Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section members are presenting on “”, a session organized by the soon to be Health Informatics and Information Technology Section

11. James Kimmey, MD, MPH, was the APHA Association Director when the CHPPD Section was formed. Dr. Kimmey recalls there was opposition to the section being formed and said that the composition of the section membership changed quickly. In a 2007 CHPPD membership survey, members representing every focus area of Healthy People 2010 responded to the survey. In 2009, section members are writing a white paper on built environment.

12. CHPPD Section members present more than 200 abstracts on diverse health issues at the Annual Meeting. Members had initiated policies on “developing an evidence-based for effective community health assessment practice” and “Education and research into the community health effects of Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.

13. 2009 “Health in All Policies” Winning Design in Section Contest: There is increasing recognition of Health In All Policies, and an evidence-based approach.. Health is a determinant of life, and in turn, is affected by social and physical determinants.

14. The Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section celebrates 40 years, proud that we have come far, and realize that we have miles to go . . . .

15. The Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section would especially like to thank Timothy Bobo, Executive Director the Central New York Health Systems Agencies for providing photographs and background information on Richard H. Schlesinger; and Dr. James R Kimmey, President and CEO of Missouri Foundation for Health, for generously sharing his time and perspectives of the Section and APHA 40 years ago. They have shed light into the continuing legacy of the Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section.