Neighborhoods and Health Research Briefs

2011

Building Community Resilience to Disasters: A Roadmap to Guide Local Planning — 2011

Examines ways in which communities can improve their ability to withstand and recover from adversity.

Preventing Obesity and Its Consequences: Highlights of RAND Health Research — 2011

Summarizes key RAND studies on the causes of obesity, its economic and health consequences, and potential strategies for prevention, including work on health care costs, junk food, food deserts, school meals, and proximity of parks.

2009

Children's Health in Washington, D.C.: Access and Health Challenges Despite High Insurance Coverage Rates — 2009

Assesses children's health issues in Washington, D.C., including the health care delivery system and neighborhood health environments.

South Los Angeles Ban on Fast-Food Chains Misses the Mark — 2009

Summarizes the evidence for the ban on new fast-food chain restaurants in South Los Angeles (LA), including the density of such restaurants in the area and the eating habits of South LA residents, and concludes that the data do not support the ban.

2008

Constrained Choice: Why Are Some Women and Men Able To Create and Maintain Healthy Lifestyles, While Others Are Not? — 2008

This fact sheet describes a model of constrained choice that explains how policy decisions at the family, work, community, and government levels can have unintended consequences that ultimately produce differences in men's and women's health.

Do Neighborhood Economic Conditions Influence the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables? — 2008

This fact sheet summarizes a study examining the variation of the intake of fruits and vegetables for blacks, whites, and Mexican Americans, in addition to the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and this intake.

2007

How Neighborhoods Can Reduce the Risk of Obesity — 2007

This research brief explores the relationship of a neighborhood's characteristics to obesity in its residents.

Using the ''Getting to Outcomes™'' Approach to Help Communities Prevent Underage Drinking — 2007

This research brief is a summary of a longer guide that provides key accountability questions, worksheets, tools, and examples to help communities plan, implement, and evaluate their efforts to reduce and prevent underage drinking.

2006

How Schools Can Help Children Recover from Traumatic Experiences — 2006

This fact sheet summarizes a program guide, or tool kit, that describes a variety of school-based mental health programs for students exposed to trauma, such as Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, and community or personal violence.

2005

Does Neighborhood Deterioration Lead to Poor Health? — 2005

This research brief summarizes research findings indicating that neighborhood deterioration is associated with poorer health; however, collective efficacy is associated with lower rates of disease and other markers of poor health.