The category Case Studies shows examples of best practices on City Health Development plans and the three Healthy Cities core themes 3+1 (healthy ageing, healthy urban planning and health impact assessment +active living) in the phase IV (2003-2008). The cities present proven solutions to the issues considering the citizen’s wellbeing. A best practice can be an effective or / and efficient strategy, project or way of action that shows how the city is working on the challenges considering public health. The category offers a possibility to share information with other cities and interested partners, and learn how the challenges considering public health are dealt with in other cities.

The concept of best practice means basically examining methods for achieving optimal outcomes. It can mean the lessons that have been learned during the development and realisation of a strategy, project or way of action, and the continuing process of learning, feedback, reflection and analysis. It accumulates and applies knowledge about what are the good and not so good approaches in different situations.

You can learn about the cities’ best practices in the following sub-categories:

City Health Development Plan
City Health Development Plan (CHDP) is a strategic plan of the city aiming at the integration of health and wellbeing aspects into the city planning processes. The CHDP is a strategy document which includes the vision and values of the city as well as the strategy of how to achieve the vision. City Health Development Plan is a shared strategy of several sectors and actors whose policies and activities have an influence on health in a city.

This topic gives the examples of the City Health Development Plans of the cities.

Health Impact Assessment
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a tool to assess the potential effects a policy, programme or project may have on the health of a population. The topic gives examples of the procedures, methods and tools the cities are using to assess health impacts, and ways to integrate HIA in the decision making process.

Healthy Urban Planning
The purpose of Healthy Urban Planning is to emphasize health considerations during the planning process, programmes and projects and to find a balance between social, environmental and economic pressures. The sub-category tells about the cities’ actions to achieve this goal.

Healthy Ageing
Healthy Ageing is about the ability to live a healthy, safe and socially inclusive life, despite of one’s age. Healthy ageing recognizes the equal opportunities for all age groups, promotes a positive attitude towards ageing and breaking down stereotypes. This sub-category presents examples on how to generate local political commitment and to introduce policies and planning processes that will ensure a holistic and well-balanced approach to the health of older people.

Active Living/ Physical Activity 
Active Living is any physical activity that benefits health. At the city level the goal is to improve the conditions supportive to a healthy lifestyle. Citizen's activity is affected by all components of living environment: built environment, social relations, personal qualities etc. A city should notice these factors when promoting physical activity and active living of its citizens.  The sub-category offers descriptions and experiences on how Physical Activity/Active Living is linked as a cross-cutting for the other themes.

Other Activities
Other experiences can be included in this sub-category. These are for example descriptions about the public health priorities of WHO, nationally or at the local level, developing equity, social determinants, non-communicable diseases, mental health, HIV/AIDS, child health, migrants and public health crisis.

More about City Health Development Planning:
• City health development planning, A working tool on concept, process structure and content
• City health planning, the framework
• City planning for health and sustainable development

More about Health Impact Assessment:
• Healthy Cities and Urban Governance page about WHO/ EU Commission Phase-project pages
• WHO/Europe Health impact assessment methods and strategies pages

More about Healthy Urban Planning:
• Healthy Urban Planning in practice, experience of European cities, report of the WHO City Action Group on Healthy Urban Planning

More about Healthy Ageing:
• WHO/ Europe Healthy Ageing home page

More about active living and physical activity:
• Promoting physical activity and active living in urban environments, role of local goverments, The solid facts publication of WHO Healthy Cities
• WHO's Global Strategy for Physical Activity, Diet and Health
• WHO’s Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health home page

More about the goals and requirements for the Phase IV :
http://www.euro.who.int/document/E81924.pdf