Creating Healthy Environments: Case Studies of Local Health Departments

What strategies, relationships, and roles are local health departments using to promote healthy built environments? In an effort to promote collaboration between public health departments, foundations, local governments, and community design professionals, three local public health departments in California were profiled in case studies about their work on built environment issues. 

Los Angeles County was featured in one such study, the Creating Healthy Built Environments: Case Studies of Local Public Health Departments in California, which was published by the California Center for Physical Activity’s and Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting. All three case studies are listed below:
Los Angeles County     Shasta County     Contra Costa County

Don't Miss and Exciting Opportunity to Attend the LA Street Summit 2010: Walking, Biking and Beyond
On Saturday, March 20th join walking and biking advocates at LA Trade Tech for a day full of speakers and workshops to formulate exciting plans for a better public realm in the streets of Los Angeles! The Street Summit will focus on creating more connected and livable places for Southern California communities.

Janette Sadik-Khan will kick off the LA Street Summit on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Occidental College. Sadik-Khan is transforming the streetscape of New York City into a healthier, more people-friendly place--for bicyclists, pedestrians, people of all ages and abilities! Play the video on your right to learn more about Sadik-Khan's efforts or visit the following website: streetfilms.org/transforming-nyc-streets-with-jsk/.

Click here for more information on how to register for the LA Street Summit and Janette Sadik-Khan presentation.

Bike and Pedestrian Counts in Glendale: A method of assessing traffic patterns and improving bicycle infrastructure
In early September, Glendale residents and community advocates took part in a Citywide Bike and Pedestrian Count. The Count is a method of collecting data for traffic patterns and usage. Not only will results be used to determine frequently used routes to be included in the City's Safe and Healthy Streets Plan, but to also steer the City's efforts to enhance Glendale's bicycle infrastructure.

El Monte Residents Prioritize Health and Wellness for the City
A November 18th meeting in the City of El Monte helped residents vocalize their recommendations for the City's Health and Wellness Element. Over 100 community members were in attendance to discuss areas they would like the city to focus on, including parks and open space, healthy food access, and bike and pedestrian safety. At the end of the night, two bicycles and 24 helmets were raffled off to community residents, helping to promote bike safety.

Article: Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
Recent reports have shown that approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults and one-fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. This trend is a growing epidemic and is dependent upon many built environment factors. For this reason, it is important to promote healthy communities and lifestyles.

A report by the CDC identified and recommended a set of strategies and associated measurements that communities and local governments can use to plan and monitor environmental and policy-level changes for obesity prevention. It provides a resource of these policies and recommendations to help address this problem on a community level.

Video: Unnatural Causes
The series sheds light on the mounting evidence that our health is to a very large degree determined by our social circumstances, wealth, neighborhood conditions, and work life. It presents both research and personal vignettes that show that not only are those living in poverty adversely impacted, but at each descending rung of the socioeconomic ladder, people tend to be sicker and die sooner.

An important message of the series, supported by the research, is that improving the public's health will require efforts in a broad range of areas outside the traditional public health and health care sectors, including schools and educational systems, housing, land use and community design, and economic development.

Article: Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking
"Active Transportation for America" makes the case and quantifies the national benefits—for the first time—that increased federal funding in bicycling and walking infrastructure would provide tens of billions of dollars in benefits to all Americans.

By making active transportation a viable option for everyday travel, we will cost-effectively reduce oil dependence, climate pollution and obesity rates while providing more and better choices for getting around town.

Read the report to learn more about how adequate federal investment in bicycling and walking will create healthier places for healthier people.