DESCRIPTION:
This webinar discussed two main questions:
– What measures can be used to assess progress in building healthy public policy?
– What tools, resources, processes can support local public health units in measuring their effectiveness in building HPP?
Building healthy public policy is a cornerstone of public health and health promotion practice. It’s also a dynamic and complicated process with long time horizons. This provides a challenge in demonstrating our success and progress in the short-and-medium-term to partners, funders, and communities. To address this challenge, Ontario’s Healthy Public Policy Community of Practice (HPP-CoP), in partnership with Public Health Ontario (PHO), recently conducted a systematic review to identify indicators and tools to measure the process of building healthy public policy. The results of this work were published by PHO in the resource Focus On: Measuring Progress in Healthy Public Policy: Indicators and Tools for Practice.
In this webinar, HPP CoP members presented key findings from the review and presented a case study to explore using the outcomes and indicators in practice. This webinar was held on January 21, 2026.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this webinar, participants were able to:
- Differentiate between the three phases of building healthy public policy
- Identify relevant outcomes and indicators for measuring HPP actions.
- Understand the list of available outcomes and indicators and how to identify those most relevant to their own HPP activities.
*Veuillez noter que ce webinaire sera aussi offert en français le mercredi 28 janvier 2026, de 13 h à 14 h 15 (HNE). Pour en savoir plus, visitez la version française de cette page web.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION:
Webinar – Building Healthy Public Policy: Measuring Your Progress
48 slides
Webinar Recording
PPT Presentation
48 slides
SPEAKERS:
Andrea Bodkin
Senior Program Specialist, Health Promotion
Public Health Ontario
Andrea has worked in health promotion and public health since 2003. As Senior Program Specialist in Health Promotion with Public Health Ontario, Andrea brings her enthusiasm and expertise for planning in all forms, evaluation, community engagement, partnership development and facilitation to public health units across Ontario. Andrea holds a Master’s degree in Public Health with a specialty in Health Promotion from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Bernadette Walicki
Foundational Standard Specialist
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Bernadette has worked in public service since 2000. She joined Public Health Sudbury & Districts in 2017 as a Foundational Standard Specialist. As a public health professional, Bernadette promotes evidence-informed decision-making by leading, consulting, and providing expertise in the areas of population health assessment, health equity, and effective public health practice, including: program planning; evaluation; research, knowledge exchange, and communication; and quality and transparency. Bernadette holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and a PhD in Human Studies from Laurentian University.
Kimberley Aslett
Research Policy Advisor
Algoma Public Health
Kimberley has an extensive background as a health informationist and post-secondary educator. Kimberley brings a passion for evidence-informed practice, knowledge translation, and policy in the rural and northern setting to her work with Algoma Public Health. Kimberley holds a Master’s degree in Information Science (University of Toronto), and membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (MLA).
Gillian Connelly
Program Manager
Ottawa Public Health
Gillian has nearly 20 years of experience at Ottawa Public Health. Today, she leads an interdisciplinary team focused on tackling complex population health and equity challenges—issues like housing, climate change, and the built environment. Gillian is a champion for advancing healthy public policy, inter-sectoral public health and municipal action, system innovation and influencing system changes to make our communities healthier now and into the future. Gillian holds a Master of Science degree in Health Promotion from Queen’s University, a Master’s Certificate in Municipal Leadership from the Schulich School of Business, is a Certified Municipal Officer (CMO), and has completed the Municipal Administration Program (with the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)).