About Us

The Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP), established in 2000, is a partnership among: Detroit-based community organizations (Chandler Park Conservancy, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Friends of Parkside, Eastside Community Network); public health agencies (Detroit Health Department, Institute for Population Health); health service organizations (Henry Ford Health System); and academic institutions (University of Michigan School of Public Health), and community members. 

HEP is an affiliated partnership of the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (Detroit URC) and focuses on priorities initially identified by the Detroit URC board. HEP uses a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to: conduct research to better understand the relationship between the environment and cardiovascular disease, and to develop, implement and evaluate interventions designed to improve the heart health of Detroit residents. Since our inception in 2000, we have examined:

• Social Determinants of Health
• Food Environment
• Air Quality 
• Stressful Life Conditions
• Physical Activity Environment
• Promoting Physical Activity (Physical Activity Interventions) 

We continue to work with community groups and organizations in Detroit to better understand conditions that influence health in the city. These efforts include working with community organizations to promote heart health through support for walkable neighborhoods; promote walking through our Walk Your Heart to Health walking groups; reduce air pollution and its adverse effects on health; and address underlying social determinants of health.