Healthy Communities

Public Health professionals are trained to recognize patterns and problems that are affecting the province’s health. They are specialized in diagnosing the health of communities by listening to people who live there—and then use data, evidence and research to offer solutions. 

Making communities healthier requires cooperation. Different organizations must work together – schools, municipalities, non-profits, government agencies and more. Public Health brings groups together to find the root of health problems and take action.  

We often end up in the doctor’s office or hospital after we’re sick or injured. Public Health is designed to keep us from getting sick in the first place by preventing health problems before they start. Public Health works with others to identify and ensure communities in Nova Scotia have what they need to stay healthy. 

Healthy Communities is a team of Public Health professionals that focus on building understanding and promoting strategies that support the health and wellness of Nova Scotians and reduce the incidence and high costs associated with preventable diseases. Access to safe and affordable housing, oral health, healthy food, physical activity, support for substance use, injury and violence prevention and sexual health are just some of the health promotion and prevention issues our teams are working on.

We do this work by forming partnerships with other groups and sectors. Municipalities, Education, Mental Health and Addictions and Community Health Boards are some of the groups we often work with to promote wellbeing and take action together on the root of health problems.  

Learn more about Healthy Communities in Nova Scotia:

(Jump to Section)

• Municipalities and Public Health
• Schools and Public Health       
• Understanding Community Health    
• Oral Health     
• Healthy Food     
• Physical Activity     

Municipalities and Public Health

Municipalities in Nova Scotia play an essential role in shaping individual and community health. They are able to engage with community members and partners to understand local issues and take action across a variety of settings. Public Health works with municipalities by contributing health promotion expertise, sharing best practice evidence and data, and identify factors that impact community health.

Our Healthy Communities team members focus on a broad range of topics, like school health, housing, income, climate change, food insecurity, healthy eating environments, active transportation, recreation, healthy community design, substances, injury prevention, oral health, health equity, and more.

Schools and Public Health

Schools are a foundation for good health. Health and learning are closely connected. There are many ways that schools shape health. For example:

• When nutritious food is served at school, it’s easier for kids to eat well.
• When students get to move and play during instruction, they’re active and engaged.
• When youth have a trusted adult they can turn to at school, they feel connected and supported.

Students’ experiences in the classroom and their achievement in school, such as test scores and graduation, are built on what happens outside of school. Partnership between education and Public Health makes sense because a healthy, vibrant community lays a strong foundation that supports the academic achievement and well-being of our students.  

Health Promoting Schools is an evidence-based, whole school approach to health promotion that guides the work of Nova Scotia Health Public Health in schools and with school communities. This includes supports like Youth Health Centres in high schools across the province. 

Learn more about Health Promoting Schools and Youth Health Centres. 

Understanding Community Health

Engaging community members and looking at relevant data can help identify local priorities for improving wellbeing. Public Health develops data profiles to support community conversations. Community conversations are hosted by Community Health Boards, Mental Health and Addictions health promotion and our local Public Health teams. 

For more information, contact SSP-HC@nshealth.ca. 

Oral Health

Oral health is essential to overall health at every age and stage of life. For children, good oral health supports their growth and development, behaviour, and ability to learn, socialize and play. Along with daily cleaning of teeth and gums, access to nutritious food, fluoride and regular dental care helps to support good oral health. 

Public Health works to improve conditions in communities that help everybody have a fair chance at good oral health, like advocating for community water fluoridation. Public Health also offers a school-based fluoride varnish program in select communities across the province.     

Learn more about Public Health’s oral health programs and initiatives.

Healthy Food

Access to healthy food is determined by many factors, such as the cost of food, the types or number of grocery stores or fresh food markets that are available in our community, and how foods and beverages are marketed. Public Health professionals bring together partners to take action on issues like food insecurity and work with others to improve access to healthy food in community spaces, including hospitals, schools, recreation centers and childcare facilities. Some actions that we are involved in within Nova Scotia include food and nutrition policies for schools, childcare, sports and recreation, and Nova Scotia Health facilities. 

Helpful links: 

• Nova Scotia School Lunch Program
• Canada Food Guide 

Physical Activity

Physical activity promotes health and prevents injury and disease. Sitting less and moving more promotes both mental and physical health at all ages. Active recreation and active learning help children and youth grow and develop. Regular movement in senior years helps delay frailty, which prevents falls, and physical activity lowers the risk of having some common chronic diseases. 

Public Health collaborates with municipalities, schools and recreation organizations to find community solutions to help us all fit in movement while we learn, work, play and travel in communities. There are proven ways that communities can be designed to support people to do these things in healthier ways. For example, when communities have safe parks and walking routes, being physically active is easier.

Helpful links: 

• Nova Scotia’s Let’s Get Moving Plan
• Community Active Transportation Plans
• Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
• ParticipACTION