A typical application of the HDMT is based on three steps that ask:

1. Does a place have healthy living and working conditions?
   • To answer this question, use HDMT Indicator data to record and assess baseline conditions. Indicators are presented as maps, figures, tables, and statistics, often disaggregated at the neighborhood level
2. Does a plan or project advance health-related conditions?
   • To answer this question, evaluate plan/project documents against HDMT Indicator data and Development Targets.
3. What recommendations for planning policies, implementing actions, or project design would advance community health objectives?
   • To answer this question, identify or develop concrete and specific recommendations for plan/project improvements.

The HDMT in used in two primary ways:

1. Apply the HDMT objectives, indicators and development targets in a full-scale evaluation of a project or plan. To see a step-by-set application of the HDMT in this format, see Step-by-Step Application and/or read our Executive Park and Eastern Neighborhoods Case Studies
2. Apply the HDMT Development Checklist to do a rapid evaluation of a project or plan. Visit the HDMT Development Checklist to learn more.

In order to formally apply the HDMT to a project or plan, a number of preliminary actions must be completed. Learn more about the Preliminary Steps in applying the Tool.

In addition to formally applying the HDMT, you can use a number of HDMT resources to support your work. For example:

• Indicator data can be used to perform a baseline conditions assessment of your neighborhood. Accessing the data in this way can support grant writing, needs assessments, budget analysis, and public advocacy. Visit our Neighborhood Indicator Profiles to access this information. An example of how HDMT indicator data has been used is available in our Bernal Heights Case Study
• The objectives pages of the HDMT include a number of policies, design strategies and established standards that can be used to hold development plans and projects accountable to. While you may not want to conduct a full-scale application, you can use these policies and design strategies as a “glossary” of methods to improve local development plans and projects. Similarly, the established standards provide national, state and local targets that can be used to call attention to positive aspects and/or shortcomings in projects and plans. For example, if a neighborhood plan does not include any targets for open space, you may want to reference your City General Plan’s open space targets. Or, if your General Plan does not include any open space targets, you may want to reference the National Parks and Recreation Association standard of 10 acres of open space per 1,000 residents.
• Health-based rationales and research citations provide an extensive body of evidence that supports the connections between health and urban development. If you are interested in beginning work around development impacts on health, this research can support grant writing and targeted interventions in specific content areas (i.e., parks, child care, and housing). These citations are distributed through the HDMT, on both objective and indicator pages.

In this section, you can:

• Review the Preliminary Steps you need to take to use the HDMT
• Understand how to conduct a Step-by-Step Application
• Review a Tool Application Example
• Access a Tool Application Worksheet
• Learn our Notification Requirements using the HDMT
• Review our Endorsement Disclaimer