Public health units cited an understanding of
municipal department structures and roles,
and the legislative frameworks they operate
within, as helpful to establishing meaningful
collaborations. Familiarity with institutional
frameworks helps public health units identify
places where departmental agendas align with
healthy built environment goals, and where
structural barriers exist. Understanding internal
departmental processes is also the first step
towards suggesting changes to these processes
so that they better incorporate a health lens. This
knowledge is localized, as each municipality’s
institutional structure is different.