An Introduction to Health in All Policies
What Is Health in All Policies?
Health in All Policies (HiAP) is a cross-sector approach that weaves health and equity into everyday decision-making—across policies, practices, programs, and investments. It’s based on the idea that health outcomes are largely shaped by social, economic, and environmental conditions (like housing, transportation, and access to resources), which in turn are shaped by decisions made outside the traditional health sector.
HiAP helps decision-makers anticipate impacts, reduce unintended harms, and design actions that improve community well-being. It emphasizes collaboration across sectors and recognizes that everyone—from governments to organizations to individuals—plays a role in shaping healthier, more equitable communities.
Decisions Shape Health
Individual health and well-being are influenced by the environments in which they live, learn, work, and play, and these environments are shaped by decisions made by governments, organizations, and institutions. Choices about how housing is planned and developed, how transportation systems are designed, or how food assistance programs are delivered all influence where people live, what resources they can access, and what opportunities are within reach. Over time, these decisions shape community conditions—and ultimately, health outcomes.
By considering health and equity in all decision-making, communities can make informed decisions that support healthier outcomes.
HiAP Leverages Policies, Practices, Programs, and Investments
Policies, practices, programs, and investments shape conditions for health and well-being in the real world.
- Policies guide rules and regulations that shape systems and environments.
- Practices influence how organizations operate and deliver services.
- Programs provide structured initiatives designed to address community needs.
- Investments determine how resources and funding are allocated
HiAP Improves Decision-Making
HiAP helps decision-makers identify (often unforeseen) benefits and harms before decisions are implemented. HiAP provides a framework for ensuring that policies, practices, programs, and investments support people’s health by maximizing benefits and minimizing unintended harms.
By applying HiAP, decision-makers can leverage policies, practices, programs, and investments for health, well-being and equity, for example:
- Including health considerations in policies and guidelines: A school district changing lunch policies to improve nutrition
- Adjusting organizational practices to better support well-being: a workplace adjusting staff scheduling to better-support employee work/life balance and well-being
- Designing programs with health and equity in mind: A housing program reducing asthma by improving building standards
- Making investments that improve conditions for health: A city redesigning bus routes to improve access to jobs and clinics
HiAP examines who benefits from a policy, practice, program, or investment, and who may be excluded or unintentionally harmed. It then asks how these decisions can be redesigned to better-support health and well-being. By applying this lens, decision-makers can more easily anticipate the health impacts of their actions and make more informed, equitable choices.
