Question 1

What is the GuideBox to Healthy Places?

Accepted Answer

The GuideBox to Healthy Places is a comprehensive, easy-to-use resource kit developed by CU Denver's Health+Design Initiative to help communities, planners, educators, and decision-makers engage with health topics as they relate to the built environment. The name reflects its design as a "box" of tools that can be selected and combined depending on the audience and purpose.

At its core, the GuideBox is about making health concepts accessible. Rather than requiring technical expertise in public health, it presents information in an approachable, visual format that invites participation and discussion from diverse groups. Whether used at a neighborhood meeting, in a classroom, or at a professional workshop, the GuideBox is designed to spark meaningful conversations about how communities can be designed and changed to improve health.

The GuideBox was developed as part of the "Creating Healthy Places through Transformational Education and Design" project, funded by the Colorado Health Foundation. It is intended to complement the Health Assessment Lens, which provides a more in-depth technical evaluation tool for professional planners and designers.

All materials in the GuideBox are available online for free download, and a printed version may be borrowed from Colorado Healthy Places Collaborative partner organizations throughout the state.

Question 2

How should I use the GuideBox in a community meeting?

Accepted Answer

The GuideBox is specifically designed to work in community meeting settings, and the Facilitator's Guide provides detailed instructions for planning and running a session. Before the meeting, the facilitator reviews the purpose, selects relevant topic booklets, and prepares activities using the Card Deck.

During a session, the Card Deck is particularly effective for generating discussion. Cards can be sorted, ranked, or used as prompts to help participants identify health priorities and challenges in their community. The four suits — Access, Buildings, Environment, and Equity — help organize discussions around different aspects of the built environment.

The WalkGuide is especially useful for sessions that include a neighborhood walk. It provides a structured way for participants to observe and record health-related features of their community in real time, grounding the conversation in direct experience rather than abstract concepts.

After the session, the Survey tool allows participants to reflect on outcomes and provides facilitators with feedback on the effectiveness of the GuideBox for their specific community context. This feedback loop was built into the GuideBox design to support continuous improvement and adaptation.

Question 3

What are the four suits in the Card Deck?

Accepted Answer

The Card Deck contains 52 cards organized into four suits of 13 cards each, corresponding to four key dimensions of healthy communities. Each card features an image on one side and health-related facts or information on the other side.

The Access Suit covers issues related to transportation, mobility, and access to services — factors like walkability, transit options, bicycle infrastructure, and proximity to healthcare, food, and recreation. Access is foundational to health equity, as communities with poor access to services often face worse health outcomes.

The Buildings Suit addresses the role of the built structures — homes, offices, schools, and public buildings — in shaping health. Topics include indoor air quality, natural light, thermal comfort, building materials, and the design of spaces for physical activity and social interaction.

The Environment Suit explores the natural environment and its relationship to health, covering topics like green space, air and water quality, urban heat islands, stormwater management, and the benefits of nature exposure for mental and physical wellbeing.

The Equity Suit examines how health is distributed unequally across communities based on race, income, and other social factors. It addresses systemic issues like environmental justice, displacement, food deserts, and the need for inclusive design that serves all community members, not just the most privileged.

Question 4

Is the GuideBox available for free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all components of the GuideBox to Healthy Places are available free of charge. The online version of the GuideBox can be downloaded directly from the Health+Design Initiative website. Users can download individual components — the Facilitator's Guide, topic booklets, Card Deck, WalkGuide, and other materials — based on their specific needs.

For those who prefer physical copies, the pre-printed version of the GuideBox may be borrowed from Colorado Healthy Places Collaborative partner organizations. These organizations are located throughout Colorado and include professional associations, government agencies, foundations, and advocacy organizations. Contact information for borrowing locations is available through the Colorado Healthy Places Collaborative.

The GuideBox is intended to be a widely accessible resource. Its development was funded by the Colorado Health Foundation specifically to benefit communities throughout Colorado, and its free availability reflects that commitment to broad access.

The quality of printed materials will vary depending on the printer used. For the best results, the online version can be used on a computer or projected on a screen, while the download version is formatted for printing with fold lines to create two-sided cards.

Question 5

How does the GuideBox relate to the Health Assessment Lens?

Accepted Answer

The GuideBox and the Health Assessment Lens are complementary tools that address different needs in the health-in-design process. While they can be used independently, they work well together as part of a comprehensive approach to health-informed planning and design.

The GuideBox is primarily an awareness and facilitation tool. It is designed to introduce health concepts, spark community conversations, and help diverse audiences — including non-professionals — engage with the topic of health and the built environment. It is broad in scope, covering a wide range of health topics in an accessible, visual format.

The Health Assessment Lens, by contrast, is a more technical evaluation tool designed for planners, designers, and decision-makers working on specific projects. It provides a structured framework for systematically assessing health conditions across eight categories, identifying gaps, and informing design decisions throughout the project lifecycle.

A common workflow might involve using the GuideBox in early community engagement to build awareness and gather input, then applying the Health Assessment Lens for more formal technical evaluation and project scoping. Together, they support a continuum from broad community awareness to detailed professional practice.

Question 6

Can I use the GuideBox without facilitation training?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the GuideBox was designed to be usable by people without formal facilitation training. The Facilitator's Guide provides step-by-step instructions for planning and running a session, making it accessible to community leaders, educators, and advocates who may be organizing a meeting or workshop for the first time.

That said, some facilitation experience can be helpful, particularly for larger groups or more contentious topics like equity and displacement. The GuideBox materials are designed to be flexible, so facilitators can adapt them to the needs and dynamics of their specific audience and setting.

Many Colorado Healthy Places Collaborative partner organizations have staff who have experience using the GuideBox and can offer guidance or co-facilitate sessions. Reaching out to a local partner organization is a good first step for those who want support in using the GuideBox for the first time.

The GuideBox also includes a Survey component, which allows facilitators to collect participant feedback after a session. Reviewing this feedback after your first session can provide valuable insights for improving future uses of the GuideBox materials.

GuideBox for Healthy Places

Quick Access

Online and Printed Versions

Online Version

Printed Copy

GuideBox Content

Card Deck

Interactive Version (Online)

Download Version (Print-Out)

Additional Resources

Health Assessment Lens

Frequently Asked Questions