County’s ‘Live Well, San Diego!’ Improving the Region’s Health
In summer of 2010, the County launched Live Well, San Diego!, a long-term plan to improve the health and well-being of all San Diego County residents. Today, the County Board of Supervisors received a report on the impact of Live Well, San Diego! on the region during the initiative’s second year.
“The County is committed to improving the health and well-being of the region,” said Chairman Ron Roberts, County Board of Supervisors. “Live Well, San Diego! has made considerable progress and together we are building momentum to bring about positive change for residents.”
The Live Well, San Diego! year two report highlights how the County is working with a wide-range of partners, including residents, hospitals, physicians, community clinics, businesses, school districts, and community and faith-based organizations, to build better health locally. Central to this effort is addressing chronic diseases, which contribute to more than half of the deaths of San Diego County residents every year.
A few examples of Live Well, San Diego! accomplishments over the past year include:
- More than 30,000 low-income people linked to medical and mental health services through the Low Income Health Program
- County Libraries hosted more than 2,000 health and fitness programs
- More than 125,800 visitors to the County’s “It’s Up to Us” mental health stigma reduction and suicide prevention website and approximately 1,000 additional calls per month to the Access & Crisis Line
- Eight school districts increased vigorous physical activity in Physical Education classes and revised their school menus to offer healthier choices
- County Parks and Recreation coordinated more than 150 different programs for physical activity and outdoor recreation including dance, sports leagues, camps, and healthy living workshops with 7,000 youth and 2,500 seniors participating
- More than 4,500 calls to the County’s Courage to Call 24/7 Peer Support Line where veterans, military and their families received assistance with basic needs, income support and employment, healthcare, mental health and substance abuse services
The County also focuses on changing the culture from within — giving employees tools and resources to help them be healthy and set a positive example for the public.
“We are making it easier for employees to lead healthier and more active lives,” said Walt Ekard, chief administrative officer for the County. “Our employees have accepted the challenge to improve their health and wellness and have become champions of Live Well, San Diego!.”
Moving forward, the County will continue to work with public and private partners to help ensure San Diego County residents are better able to “Live Well.”
“It is vitally important that we sustain and build upon the Live Well, San Diego! momentum,” said Health and Human Services Agency Director Nick Macchione. “Success requires that we keep our eyes set on our shared vision. This is truly a collective effort, and we will need the help of the entire San Diego community to achieve our goal of a healthy, safe and thriving region.”
For more information, including the newly released 2011-2012 Live Well, San Diego!: Building Better Health report, visit the County of San Diego website, www.sdcounty.ca.gov, and click Live Well, San Diego!.