Last year, the Community Health Planning and Policy Development (CHPPD) Section turned 40.  As Chair-elect Amy Carroll-Scott and I received the plaque from APHA on behalf of the Section, I was struck by how much the Section shared with the 350 original members, and yet how much we had grown.

In 1970, at the Section’s first Annual Meeting, topics focused on “health planning,” “health information systems,” “social change” and “role of government.”  Now health planning not only refers to health facilities planning, but community inter-sectoral planning.  Health information systems include informatics and technology. We are relearning how to recognize social changes and linkages with determinants of health.  Role of government is discussed in the context of “health in all policies.”  The Section membership is about 1,700 members strong.

This year, the CHPPD Section is working with the Medical Care Section on a combined special session describing the medical home/health home model of primary care from different points of view, and is also developing a policy paper on the topic. Section member Roy Grant (rgrant@chfund.org) is organizing the session and would be happy to answer any questions. Other special sessions members have been working on for the 2010 Annual Meeting are related to health information technology, health advocacy and photo journals as a tool for advocacy and education. We have always admired the CHW SPIG for your level of membership engagement, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the CHW Section.