Item 6 - California's Healthy Cities Project
- -
AGENDA REPORT SUMMARY
TO: Honorable Mayor ~nd Members of the City Council
-
..'ROM: James L. Bowersox, City Man~
INITIATED BY: John D. Fitch, Assistant City Manage~
Penny Riley, Senior Management Analys
Scott A. Nespor, Management Intern~
DATE: December 5, 1995
SUBJECf: California Healthy Cities Project
ABSTRACf
At the October 3, 1995 meeting of the City Council, Deputy Mayor Susan Callery
requested that the staff investigate the possible designation of the City of Poway as a
California Healthy City. The California Healthy Cities Project defines a community's
health to include economic and social well-being in addition to an optimal physical
environment to advance public health. This grant program recognizes cities for their
efforts to promote a holistic approach to community health. To participate in the
Healthy Cities Program the City must attend an orientation meeting and then define a
project that utilizes broad based participation from the community to improve Poway's
public health.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This informational report is not subject to CEQA review.
FISCAL IMPACf
The California Healthy Cities Program provides grants for qualified projects.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
None.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report and direct staff
to prepare a California Healthy Cities project.
ACTION
-
DEe 5 1995 ITEM .6
1 of 13
- AGENDA REPOR1
CITY OF POW A Y
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members ~ City Council
FROM: James L. Bowersox, City Mana f
~
INITIATED BY: John D. Fitch, Assistant City Manage
Penny Riley, Senior Management An~
Scott A. Nespor, Management Inter
DATE: December 5, 1995
SUBJECT: California Healthy Cities Project
BACKGROUND
At the October 3, 1995 meeting of the City Council, Deputy Mayor Susan Callery
requested that the staff investigate the possible designation of the City of
Poway as a California Healthy City.
FINDINGS
The California Healthy Cities Project defines a community's health to include
economic and social well-being in addition to an optimal physical environment
to advance public health. This grant program has been successful in promoting
a holistic approach to community health in other communities.
The first step toward becoming a California Healthy City is to attend an
orientation session. Interested cities are required to attend the session
prior to submitting an application. Session content includes:
. orientation to the Healthy Cities concept and the California model;
. gUidelines for the development and implementation of a local project;
. suggestions for forming a steering committee which represents a
variety of sectors within the community;
. discussion of needs assessment techniques and tools;
. explanation of the national health objectives, Healthy People Year
2000, and their application within cities;
. suggestions for project topics and related implementation activities;
and
. assistance with identifying logical first steps for organizing a
local Healthy Cities effort.
ACTION:
2 of 13 DEe 5 1995
- _..
Agenda Report - California Healthy Cities Project
December 5. 1995
Page 2
The next scheduled orientation is Thursday, February 8, 1996, in San
Francisco.
The staff of the California Healthy Cities Project will provide the City with
support for a qualified project including staff support, technical assistance,
and leveraging opportunities with other participants. Examples of California
Healthy Cities projects have addressed anti-graffiti, youth nutrition,
juvenile delinquent mentoring, blood and bone marrow registries, and literacy
programs. Palm Springs has initiated a program through Healthy Cities to
reduce dependance on tourism, while Escondido is developing a Community
Prevention Planning database focusing on alcohol-related crime and trauma data
to use in citywide planning. A listing with brief descriptions of selected
Healthy Cities projects are included in Exhibit A.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This informational report is not subject to CEQA review.
FISCAL IMPACT
The California Healthy Cities Program provides grants for qualified projects.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
None.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report and
direct staff to prepare a qualified California Healthy Cities project.
Attachments:
Exhibit A California Healthy Cities: Selected Accomplishments
Exhibit B Article from October 1991 Western City, "The Healthy City:
An Idea Whose Time Is Right"
3 of 13 DEe 5 1995 ITEM .6
-. u
---...~~...__..-
CALIFORNIA HEALTHY CITIES
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ARCATA . A c:ommmdty eemer to provide physical IDlI social activities was the focus of a year-
long process by the steering committee IDlI residents, Funding was obtained to allow an
architectural firm to prepare schematic plans of the building IDlI adjacent five-acre site,
. The steering commi~ provided citizen iuput for an ~ aoJid WlISte
IIWIllpIIIeIlt plan, The plan, developed to comply with IOIIrce reduction IDlI
recycling legislation. includes componeDts for recycling, ~, management of
special waste, IDlI educational programs for resideDts on hazardous waste disposal.
BEJlK1U .1i'y . Berkeley increased community involvement for achieving a Illfe, attrIIdive ud
economl-Ily vitaJ ueiPborllood for the Telegraph Avenue/South Campus area in a
multi-year effort. In the first year, Berkeley conducted over 1600 Mobile Crisis Team
conracts; over SOO instances of graffiti removal; over 750 conracts with homeless
persons; IDlI over 200 student/resident COJUacls on safer sexIHIV iDformation. Arrests
have decreased 39% since project inception, with violent crime arrests down by 47%.
. Berkeley's second year effort is aimed at reduction of crime IDlI improvement of the
weU-being of persons with mental illness IDlI suhcb",,~ abuse problems in the
Telegraph Avenue area. Efforts include Cops and SIwps forums to promote public
safety IDlI meint.in communication with Telegraph Avenue merchants; community
meetings to develop c:ommmdty IlIIDdards 011 lIIcoholllles; IDlI treatment IDlI
aftercare of adults with drug IDlI mental health problems, Berkeley is IJso continuing
social events such as street fairs which attracted 2000 attendees per fair in 1994.
CHICO . Based on a community-wide initiative, Healthy OIico Kids 2000, efforts focused on
youth nutritiOll and health JII'OIIIotiOll, Chico conclucted nutrition education for over
1000 K-6 students, public lectUres for over 300 residents IDlI in-service training for 30
teachen. A K-12 school IIIIlCb baseline dietary analysis conducted by the city led the
school district to hire a firm to improve the 1unch program IDlI reduce fat content in its
lunches, The City posted two youth-focused billboards per month aIId established two
nutrition IDlI health resource centers which distributed nearly 2000 iDformationaI items,
. Healthy OIico Kids 2000 is directing second-year efforts to InereuIna the emoticmaJ
weD-beiDg ud redudnc violenc:e amoDlIts youth, specificaJly by reducing student
fighting at IDlI away from school. Chico posted billboards in strategic locations to
target a c:ross-section of the resident population as part of a 1 ~month media campaign.
Conflict management workshops have been completed in four of six targeted schools.
CIDNO "" .I .0;: . Chino Hills established a mentorin& pi Op IIID in partnership with the San Bernardino
County Probation Department Youth ACCOIIIItability Board, The Chino Hills Advisory
and Menloring Program (CHAMP) pairs stvdents or first-time juvenile offenders with
adult mentors to link them with counseling, training, employment IDlI recreation
opportunities. To date 14 volunteers have been ttained for positions on the
Accountability Board, IDlI 11 others recently completed mentor training. Chino Hills
undertook an intensive campaign to publicize CHAMP, including numerous community
presentations, press releases, news articles, public service IIIDOUIK"~, IDlI a press
conference.
4 of 13 DEe 5 1995 ITEM .6
- .-
CHULA VISTA . Chula Vista's goal is to iDcrease youth Involvement by producing a newspaper
published for youth by youth. Articles focus on important health and social issues
such as nutrition, fitness, preventing unwanted pregnancies, AIDS prevention, and drug
and alcohol education. Publishing the newspaper is expected to increase youth
awareness of health issues and provide youth participants with basic business
knowledge in the day-to-day operations of a newspaper. In 1994, Chula Vista received
the League of California Cities' HeIDI PIIt1Ulm Awardfor E%celltnce for this program,
COACHELLA . Coachella's first initiative focuses on youth IIDCI COIIIID1IIIity pI.op 8DIS which improve
eJ-ftH-ess lIIId _UDitY pride. The Coachtlla Bicycle Conversion Program
provides at-risk youth with refurbished bicycles, which otherwise would be sold at
auction, in exchange for 10 hours of community service in areas such as litter removal,
graftiti abatement and assisting senior residents. To refurbish the bicycles, the
Coacbell, Police Employee's Association provides basic training in bicycle repair for
14 senior volunteers. The program's goal is to reduce youth arrests by five percent,
establish positive activities for youth, and elimm.tl'! graffiti and litter in the city,
DUARTE . Duarte is ~ blood drive lIIId bone marrow r~l' Duarte successfully
encourag , employing over 2SOO employees to adopt policies allowing
employees time off for donations, To date, the program has been responsible for 2S
bone marrow registrations and the donation of 66 pinls of blood. The City distributed
program information to over 2000 participants at its 37th anniversary celebration and
picnic. Over 300 children were vaccinated at Duarte's Family Immlml,,,tion Fairs,
conducted in partnership with local health care providers, a service club and the Duarte
Unified School District. Over 120 residents have learned how to prevent property
damage and personal injury at an EtlrtIIquab Prtpartdntss Night.
. The City of Duarte was selected as a test .ile for distribution of the We1lness Guide, an
8O-page illustrated book on staying well, Duarte mobilized over 100 volunteers to
deliver English and Spanish versions of the Guidt to all 8000 households in the city, In
1991, the City received the League of California Cities' Helen PutnomAwardfor
Excellence for this community wel1ness program. The California Healthy Cities Project
was recognized as a partner in this award.
ESCONDIDO . Escondido is developing a Community Pnvtntion Plmlning Database focusing on
Indialton for alcohol-related crime lIIId trauma data and other information to be
used in community-wide planning. Escondido received over 524,000 from San Diego
County Alcohol Services supponing this initiative and has produced preliminary maps
and graphics depicting alcohol-licensed establishments and their distribution in high-
crime areas for community round table meetings, The database reinforces alcohol
policy direction established by the City Council and provides a valuable monitoring and
evaluation tool for future prevention policies and strategies,
. The La Vida Buena Coalition developed culturally-approprlate health promotion
proer8DIS for the city's Latino popuJation, Based on a needs assessment and survey of
305 members of the target population, programs promoting physical activity and
nutrition were developed to reduce the risk of hypertension and diabetes, with
assistance from a 3-year grant from the California Department of Health Services, Over
60 copies of the needs ass-....-ent were distributed throughout the community. The city
also included SpanishlEnglish signage in its Parks and Recreation Master Plan,
2
5 of 13 DEe 5 1995 ITEM b
- -~------~-
LONG BEACH . A city-wide campaign to educate the public on the tran.",i..~ion and prevention of mv
infection included a workplace AIDS education program for employen and
workers, A $5,000 grant from Kaiser-Permanente Community Service Fund helped
implement the project. An AIDS in the Workplace conference was held for 30 local
employers to discuss legal and psycho-social issues of employing people with AIDS,
MONTEREY PARK . The LiUracy for All Momny Park (LAMP) program used over 100 volunteer
teachers to teach approximately 300 residents learning F.ngJi.h as a second language
(ESL) and the functionally-illiterate. Monterey Park incorporated tobacco education
into the ESL classes, reaching 50 SlUdents, and reached an additional 100 ESL SlUdents
in coordination with the Alhambra Health District. A U.S. citizenship workshop for 61
immigrantS was also sponsored,
OAKLAND . Oakland is developing YouthIine, a 24-hour hotline for crisis intervention, information
and referral which is being tailored to serve Oakland 0 s diverse youth population,
Current efforts include securing grant funding, vohmteer recruitment, implementing a
multi-cultural promotional campaign, and developing training.
. Oakland will - community needs .-Indlcaton to be chosen jointly by expen
pane1s and community focus groups. To ensure widespread exposure to the indicators,
Oakland will disseminate the final repon in several formats, which may include cable
TV, community meetings, agency presentations, and pr-nt:lrion or pub1ication of the
repon in several languages. The repon is expected to provide community groups, local
government, and non-profit agencies with vital plann"" information.
OCEANSIDE . Oceanside is conducting a community-wide effon to Improve the appearance and
safety or a demoastration nelchborhood through positive community-based projects,
The city has developed a Community Begins With Me! program to abate graffiti,
sponsored a 'Community Awareness Day' attended by 100 persons, presented 12
awards to residents to recognize home beautification efforts and developed a 'Y ou
Have No Right to Tag' video for use by eJ""""'tary schools. Bilingual surveys of over
200 neighborhood residents showed 55 percent saw improvements in graffiti problems,
and 45 percent saw improvements in littering problems since program inception. More
residents also reponed participating in neighborhood watch and clean-up programs,
PALM DESERT . Palm Desen impJ~ented a Gatekeeper plOp_ to identify seniors at risk for abuse,
neglect, iwpcoper medication and financial expJoillition, In partnership with the
Riverside County Office of Aging, postal employees, banks, and refuse collectors, the
City distributed information to 20,000 households, developed program packages for 25
agencies and trained 200 employees. Compared to 1994, calls to the Riverside County
Office of Aging for assistance and program information increased by 16 percent. Along
with the Gatekeeper Program, the City recently began work with Project Core, a joint
effon by a multitude of private and public agencies to improve services to seniors,
. The City updated its Multi-Function Hazard PI8D as part of an on-going focus on
injury prevention; distributed a city newsletter highlighting emergency/disaster
preparedness information to 25,000 residents; and conducted training for three
communities including 225 residents and ISO employees of local businesses,
. A safety belt c:ampalp increased usage by 13 percent. The campaign was conducted
in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education and Sheriff's Depanment
using a $16,000 grant from the California Office ofTraftic Safety, Computer software
to track injuries was also developed for targeting additional injury control efforts,
3
6 of 13 DEe 5 1995 ITEM b
- _.
PALM SPRINGS . Palm Springs developed Palm Springs ViSion 2010, a common 'risiOD of a healthy
community using a community COIIHIlS1II-buBdinc pl'0CSI. This process is being
followed by the development of a ItrateIic plan for achieving the vision. Objectives
also include obtaining information about the c:ommunity using a community health
assessment. an environmenta1 scan and the Civic Index developed by the National Civic
League. Based on this information and c:ommunity priorities as reflected in the vision
statement, the City will set priorities for program development and implementation.
PASADENA . Pasadena producM a Quality of life Index assessing community needs and resources to
improve long-range pl.nning, policy_m.1M1Ig and resource allocation for the City. The
process involved extensive c:ommunity input, iDc1uding residents, technical advisory
panels, a broad-based steering c:ommittee, special interest groups and neighborhood
groups, The 55 measures included a broad amy of factors affecting community life,
such as arts and culture, education, health, employment and housing, The entire
Coruellsru Set of IndictltD,., rec:c-........!ed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention was incorporated into the Index. and one-third of the Index addressed
Healthy People 2000 objectives. Over 3600 copies of the Index have been distributed
in Pasadena. throughout California and beyond.
. In its next phase of work with the Quality of Lift Indicators, Pasadena is developing a
methodology for evaluatlDa cluuIpIln 30 c:omID1IIIity outcomes. Pasadena plans to
document the changes, relate the changes to current and past community needs, and
identify the extent to which factors such u budget allocation. non-profit involvement
and c:ommunity-based efforts affect outcOIDeI.
-"'ITI'SBURG . Three hundred at-risk youth in Pittsburg received educ:ation and outreach services to
prevent pna-reIated adivities, Pittsburg developed the AClive living Project in
partnership with Contra Costa County to pruDOte moderate physical exercise among
at-risk popu1ations and received a three-year grant from the California Department of
Health Services. Funding was also received from the California Office of Traffic Safety
to promote pedestrian and bk:yde ufliy in panoersbip with Pitlsburg School District
and Contra Costa County,
ROHNERTPARK . Robnert Park developed and distributed a 1995 community caleudar, Focus on Our
Youth. to over 7000 parents and students. The calendar provided information on a wide
variety of monthly health topics, including exercise and fitness, immunization, bicycle
safety, drugs and alcohol, nutrition, and primm;ng pool safety.
. Robnert Park passed a 100 percent lIDoke-free restaurant ordinance. The city
provided 62 restaurants with table tentS and buttons to inform customers about the
ordinance. The Tobacco-Free Bruiness Project reached 500 local businesses with free
educational materials, self-help guides. smoking cessation classes. and assistance in
developing worksite policies, with assistance from a $150,000 grant from the California
Department of Health Services' Proposition 99 (tobacc:o taX) monies.
. Robnert Park conducted a key Informant IlIrftY of over 200 persons to assess health
and human service needs and to identify barriers to services in the community,
Members from a cross-section of the c:ommunity formed an advisory committee.
Technical assistance was received from California State University, Sonoma. .Top
priorities included a supervised activity center for youth; an integrated effort to
coordinate substance abuse education, treatment and prevention programs; and a multi-
service center to provide one-stop access for health and human service needs.
4
7 of 13 DEe 5 1995 ITEM b
--- ~---".~ -
ROSEVll..LE . Roseville CODducted a c:omm1lllity forum involving 100 residents for its HealtIry
RoseviUe 2000 Community Forum project to develop a vision for the community and
identify the City's health needs for the year 2000 and beyond, Based on information
from the forum, Roseville will set priorities for community improvement and develop a
pIan to carry out those priorities.
. RosevilIe lIIIrYeyed 130 cIieDts in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program to
learn about their behavioral risk factors and need for additional services; produced the
monthly cable television series City of Rostvillt Htalth Talk, available to 17,000
households; and distributed a newsletter highlighting the Healthy Cities concept and
action pIan to 53,800 residents.
SAN FRANCISCO . Focusing on the culturally diverse Tenderloin neighborhood. San Francisco developed
a pIan to increase education IDd timely 1mD.o....1__ for children up to two years
old. Outreach included advertising and publicadon of 2SOO informational flyers in five
languaps (Cambodian, Chinese, Spanish, Vifm'~t and F-"lgli.h); messages
pruu18'fu.s timely immunizations on milk cartons and grocery bags provided by a local
grocery chain; production of Love Your Baby posters; and development of an
immunization calendar, How I Feel When I Feel HealtIry, incorporating children's
anwork. In 1995, San Francisco intf!IVI, to replicate and fine-tune this project in
another area, the Mission neighborhood,
SAN RAMON . San Ramon is focusing on ~ prepuedn_ and t~.rhing residents self-reliance in
the first 72 hours after a disaster. The initiative is using the unique approach of
identifying and organi7i'lg residents by neighborhood. San Ramon will then train an
esrim.ted 125 "Emergency Neighborhood Captains" who will, in turn, train and assist
their neighbors in preparing their neighborhood and homes for a disaster. Related
activities will include a citywide earthquake drill and emergency operations center
exercise, with responsibility for coordination placed on recently trained captains,
. San Ramon previously focused on increasing awareness of haJtb risks DoanMatfCI with
usiDa tobacco, including a pre- and post-test of business owners' knowledge of local
tobacco ordi".",.es. The city cont.Me(! over 80 percent of local businesses, providing
them with business education packets on the city's tobacco control ordinance and
restrictions on selling tobacco to minors. The City sponsored Super Safety Saturday, in
which information on smoking and second-band smoke was provided to 750 attendees,
SANTA CLARITA . Santa Clarita has developed a health IDd weIlDes resource dlrectory to improve the
health information network for residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. The directory was
distributed to local agencies, non-profit organizations, and health care providers, The
directory's utilization and usefillness will be evaluated after its distribution,
. Santa Clarita Educated Communities United in Response to Emergencies (SECURE)
trained over 3500 families for 72 hours oflelf1llftldency following a disaster. In
addition, Santa Clarita distributed emergency preparedness guides to over 60,000
residents. In recognition of its efforts relating to SECURE, Santa Clarita received an
ICMA award for Citizen InvolvtmtnJ Program Ezctlltnce.
. Santa Clarita celebrated the opening of its first WIIIkIDc tndI, the South Fork Trail, in
conjunction with "Healthy Cities Day," attended by over 200 residents, In addition, a
city-sponsored walking program enrolled 300 residents.
5
8 of 13 DEC 5 1995 ITEM b
- -
SOUTH EL MONTE . By offering evening clinics at its senior center, a grassroots health promotion effon
resulted in the Immnnl,,,ti9ll of over 1000 children in South E1 Monte in an IS-month
period. Partners in this effort included the Los Angeles COIlDly Health Department and
medical professionals who volunteered their time.
WEST . West Hollywood publishes a eommUDity newsletter In Russian, Spanlsb and ~ngJl.h
HOLLYWOOD for 1inguisticaIly isolated families, focusing on culturally appropriate health. safety and
municipal resource information, Three issues of Family NNS have been published and
sent to over 3000 households. West Hollywood also made AIDS education material
available in Russian and Spanish. Pre- and post-tests showed over 75 percent of the
respondents increased their knowledge of available social services and key information
on IUV trlIIn"",i...ion. West Hollywood recently began parrielparil'1g in the Children's
Rolllldtable, an interagency effon to improve the coordination of services involving
education, h'brary, social services, parks and recreation, and city staff.
. In parlDership with the Los Angeles Free Clinic, West Hollywood opened an Adult
Day Health Center serving 2S people with AIDS and.2S elderly persons. The Center
was the first in the nation to serve both popu1ations. The city published and distributed
3500 copies of a 25-page Lon, Term C- GuiIle focusing on services for people with
AIDS. The city also provides weekly support groups for persons recently diagnosed
with AIDS, drop-in socials and monthly forums on AIDS-related topics, attracting over
6000 participants. The city has also expanded social and recreational opportunities for
people with AIDS, offering classes on topics such as yoga,lai-chi, boxing and acting.
NEWLY PARTICIPATING C1TntlO
..:ATHEDRAL CITY · Cathedral City plans to reduce Inddents of gr1ItIIti woul..I....., dnJa-related crimes
and violence In sc:bools by raising the self-esteem of Cathedral City students through
the Gang-Related Activity Suppression Program (GJ<<SP), In cooperation with the Palm
Springs Unified School District, C.thHiral City has sponsored a CAtch 1M Spirit: I Like
Me! Wed:, during which students were exposed to problem-solving, conflict resolution,
and other character-building skills, Other planned programs include midnight .
basketball. programs wgeted specifically for at-risk youth, and an "Adopt-A-School"
program to increase student awareness of City Police and Fire Department functions.
MARTINEZ . Martinez is undertaking the development of a vision for . _Ithler Martinez using
citizen input from a community forum, Based on public input and information from
existing studies and d.t.hoses, Martinez will formulate an adicm plan to achieve the
vlsicm of HealtIry Marrinez for a more liveable community. The City has successfully
solicited the assistance of Kaiser Permanente for in-kind contributions, additional
funding and technical assistance,
VISTA . Vista is focusing on increasing the self-esteem of Vista's youth by expanding the
activities of a community youth mentoring program, Club ChDllenge. The program
uses the premise that increasing self-esteem and a sense of belonging to the community
will deter youth from gang involvement, substance abuse, and other anti-social
behavior. Vista intends to Increase sc:bool attendance rates and decrease the Dumber
of suspensions, detentions and nn........ptable bebavior at school. Expected activities
in this project include team-building, a variety of community activities for youth. and
youth speaker forums,
wp6.OIIl:caaIpII\pnlIlIo2,"" _: AprU 26. 1m
6
9 of 13 DEG 5 1995 ITEM 0
.._~--_.-._..-
M ost cities have a motto or a slogan. For Instance, Manteca Is The Healthy Cities model offen a new
"the family city" and Apple Valley promises" A Better Way of ~ which concepllla!izes community
Ufe." Callfomla also has the world's garlic, apricot, and flower health in its broadest sense. to include the
capitals, not to mention the artichoke center of the world. Within physical environment, economic condi-
tions, and the sociaJ climate within the city,
the last couple of years, however, ten California cities have also The development of responsive public puli-
become known as "Healthy Cities." cies, which preserve and promote individu-
Why? These cities share a vision that the city environment The definition of the term, al and community health. is key to the
Healthy Cities approach.
of tomorrow must be a "healthy city' and however, also includes the p,oce.. for Furthermore, solving the complex PT<!b-
they've made a OOllhulbucll to make it happen achieving these outcomes, lems facing today's communities will
A healthy city? Some charge that the term Renewed ecological awareness, com- require full community participation, The
itself is a nonsequitur, and grammarians bined with a more holistic view of health,
wince. Yet it is an idea that has been found has spawned vocal constituencies for main- public !lector, businesses, community orga-
to be intrinsically underlltood and aIlractive, taining and enhancing the quality of life in nWttions and residents must jointly define
Agreement on the basic ingredients for a our communities. There is a growing health priorities and worl< collaboratively to
healthy city is easy. Clean air and water, appreciation that education, employment address agreed-upon concerns,
food, shelter, safety, access to medical care, opportunities, and the physical environ- About
economic vitality, good transportation, and ment are inextricably linked to health and
recreational space would head the list. sociaJ well-being. In cities across the COlIn- The California Project
Other qualities, however, like equity, civic try, concerns about substance abuse and Since 1988, the California Healthy Cities
participation, sustainability, access to the the need for quality child care and afford- Ptoject has assisted cities and public hea1th
arts, and celebration of cultural heritage able housing are being raised. Conse- agencies with their efforts to put the
are also recognized as part of a healthful quently, it is municipal policy makers who Healthy Cities model into practice, The
are being challenged to address these Sacramento-based Project is funded by the
Joan M. Twi.. is Projecl Direclo, of t.e issues in order to restore the human infras- State Oepartment of Health Services. The
Ca/i{o",ia Healthy Citi.. Project. tructure of their communities. Western Consortium for Public Health, an 1
WES'IERN em, OCTOBER 1991 ITEM .6
10 of 13 DEC 5 1995
-
-
The Healthy City: An Idea W/wse Time Is Right, Cmtinued
independen~ non-profit corporation. man- of public works, parks and recreation. and treatment During the summer, the coun-
ages the Project The Consortium repre- human services, environmental counsel. ty's mobile van reached several hundred
sents the Schools of Public Health and and health officers and administrators, children for child health and disability pre-
Extension Divisions at the University of Joseph Hafey, E1(eculi.veDirector of the vention examinations at the city's lunch
California. Berkeley and Los Angeles, Western Consortium, notes, "The diversity program sites,
Lela F. Folkers, Project Officer for the within this group of cities highlights how The City of Rohnert Park's Tobacco Free
State, observes, "In a time of diminishing universal these quality of life issues are in City Project aims to achieve significant
resources and expanding human needs. our communities and the broad application reductions in youth and adult tobacco Use.
the Project has been effective in enlisting of the Healthy Cities approach,. To do this, the city has effectively tapped
new partners for improving the public's To date, the Charter Healthy Cities' into numerous resources within the com-
health: California is the first and only state efforts can be grouped under four major munity - the county health departments,
health agency in the country to fund a headings: outreach services, educational schools, non-profit organizations, and the
healthy cities program. programs, environmental preservation, and business community - and utilized multi-
The Project offen educational programs. the development of new methods to mea- pie channels to create a community.wide
technical consultation, and resource mate- sure and enhance quality of life, message which discourages tobacco use.
rials to all cities throughout the state, In A $150.000 grant to the city from the
addition, the Project sponsors California State Department of Health Services will
Smoke-Free Cities in partnership with the be used to help smaIl businesses develop
League of California Cities, Americans policies and offer cessation services, The
for Nonsmokers' Rights. and the Health Chamber of Commerce has helped with
Officers Association of California. CaI- promotional activities and will sponsor an
ifornia Smoke-Free Cities is a targeted T he Project accepts applications on awards program for business which go
approach to facilitate local development of an ongoing basis throughout the smoke-free,
tobacco control policies and programs, l'lar, Participation in the Project be- North Bay Health Resources Center's
Eventually, the Project hopes to organize gins with attendlW1C8 at an orientation Stop Teenage Access to Tobacco Project
cities around other issues like substance sessiOn. Subsequent steps include: (STAMP) conducted a survey in the city
abuse and injury control 1 Passage of a city resolution that which showed that minors were successful
As a first step in applying the Healthy endoISllS participation in the Project in purchasing tobacco approximately 50
Cities concept in California. the Project and reflects commitment to the percent of the time, STAMP and the city's
established a demonstration program. AD Healthy Cities concept; Public Safety Officers combined efforts to
cities were invited to apply, Each city deter- 2 Identification and recruitment of educate merchants regarding how to corn-
mined the direction of its initial effort for local steeling committee members. ply with the law.
which most used existing data. The local representing a broad cross-section of Teaming up with the sports community,
project is used as a way of introducing the the community; and coaches were asked to serve as non-smok.
proem of Healthy Cities. 3 SubmissiOn of a project description ing role models, Tobacco use was further
Selection was based. primarily, on and a OI'I8-year workplan, discouraged by the mounting of a baseball
demonslraled commitment to the proposed The next orientation session will be field billboard, carrying a non-smoking
project by elected officials, administralors, held on Monday, November 18 in theme and by discontinuing ballpark sales
and community groups. The focus of the Oakland, Call the Project at (916) of tobacco "Iook-a-like" products,
project and the implementation slrlItegies .322-6851 for more details, One of the more recent cities to join the
proposed - their repUcability, feasibility, Project, the City of West Hollywood, is
and creativity - were the other major nationa1ly recognized for its commitment to
se1ection criteria. Ten cities. sinte designat. Outreach Services human services. The city plans to develop a
ed Charter Cities. currently participate, In In response to a measles epidemic in north- comprehensive guide for residents who
a relatively short period of time - tenure may need to utilize long-tenn care services
in the Project ranges from eight months to east Los Angeles County, the City of South that will address the psycho-social. legal,
two years - a number of lheasurable suc- E! Monte has offered monthly immunization and financial issues of long-term care.
cesses have been reported, clinics since January of 1990. With cooper- Increasing low-cost housing options within
ation from the County Health Department the city is also a priority, Plans are under-
Charter Cities and through the volunteer efforts of school way to open the first Adult Day Health Care
California's ten Charter Healthy Cities nurses. the free clinics are held during the program in the State to serve both seniors
range in size from 15,000 to 420,000 per- evening at the city's senior center, Each and persons living with AIDS,
sons, many of which have multi-ethnic pop- month, at least 50 children receive immu-
ulations representative of the state's diver- nizations, with most children receiving more Educational Programs
sity. The varied nature of these communities than one inoculation. Targeted recruitment AD kinds of informational and educational
encompasses a university town, a planned strategies have included posting notices. in activities, including presentations, classes,
community, a major port city, and an urban Spanish. next to the disposable diapers in media campaigns, distribution of city publi-
village. Their incorporated land areas run local markets, Connie McFall, the city's cations. sponsorship or participation in
Director of Human Services, describes the
the gamut from two to forty square miles, outreach c1inic as "a good example of a 'win- fairs, festivals. parades. and exhibits, have
the 1atter resulting from the IDef'II"l' of four been conducted to raise a)Olareness and
distinct communities, Dates of incorpora- win'situation," bring about change for a variety of health
tion range from 1858 to 1987, City-sponsored screenings, held in con- matters in cities.
Spearheading local projects are an envi- junction with the Shriner's Hospital, Three years ago, the City of Duarte's
2 ronmental conservation manager. directors referred 91 percent of all those examined
for disabilities for further evaluation and
UAGUE OF CAUFORNtA CmES DEe 5 1995 ITEM b
11 of 13
---.-'" ~...-----~~
strategic planning process pointed to a Citing a fundamental link between litera- be greater intercultural understanding and
lack of readily available information on cy and health, the City of Monterey Park appreciation. The completion of AAA's
self-care and local health and wellness has infused a health focus into its literacy Community Traffic Safety Questionnaire by
resources. Under its "Healthy Cities program, literacy for All of Monterey Park program participants, has obtained informa-
umbrella," the city has conducted a vari- (lAMP) serves functionally illiterate adults tion on traffic safety problems from popula-
ety of public infonnation campaigns and as weD as residents requiring tutoring in tions that would otherwise have not had an
successfully integrated a health message English-as-a-Second-Language, lAMP opportunity for input
into sever:al of its ongoing programs. In teaches more than 200 students to read, The City of Pahn Desert has a muJti.year
large part, new city dollars have not been write, and speak English. The city's popuIa- plan to address personal and community
required. Instead, these accomplishments tion is 65 percent Asian and 35 percent health and safety issues, The first goal was
have been achieved through linkages with Hispanic, The majority of program partici- to reduce the number of automobiJe.re1ated
state programs, vo~ injuries by getting
unteer efforts, and residents to "buckle
donations up," This com-
from the busi. mitment gar.
Dess commu. nered funds
nity. which are from the State
strategies common A n estimated fifty percent or more of the "The gJ'owth of this project has been so Office of Traffic
to local Healthy wo~d's population will live In cities at startJi~ that, were It a pr1vate company, It Safety for the hiring
Cities projects, the turn of the century. The needs gen- would be one of the business success sto- of part-time staff.
Duarte was cho-
sen to be the first erated by this rapid urbanization have ries of the 1980s," notes Dr. Ilona data collection, and
city in the state to resulted In strengthened alliances amo~ Klckbusch, Director, UfestyIes and Health, maIeriaJs. AfII!r only
pilot The We/lness leaders in public health, city mlln8gement, WHO Regional Office for Europe. one year, the city
Guide, Developed and politics, Valuable finks can be made with ., Intema- has experieoced a
13 percent inaease
by the University of The WO~d Health Organization's Healthy tlonal community of cities responding to in seat beh usage.
California at Ber- Cities Project began In 1986, as a joint Inl- slmllar challenges. The Haalthy Cltia. Capitalizing on
keley and the Cal-
ifornia Department ti8lille of the health PItlIllOtion andlll1lli~ approach proyJdes a co,..moo &round for an ongoing county-
of Mental Health, mental health programs In the European exchanga on a whole host of '..ue., wide traffic safety
the illustrated, so. Regional Office, It was llI1IIisioned as a way including traffic, houSing, tobacco, AIDS effort, the city fur.
page reference book to achieve their tong.<ange goal of "Health care, and mental health. ther enlisted the
provides informa- tor All," a strategy designed to enable all "New sister city relationships _ a IlIItunIl cooperation of pri-
tion on how to stay people to attain a level of health which outgrowth of the Healthy CIties move- vale businesses. h...
weD. It is written at allows them to lead soclelly and economl- ment," notes Joan Twiss, Director of the man service agen.
a sixth-grade read. cally productive lives, California Project. The City of Pelm Desert cies, schools, law
ing level and is also recently beclme a sister city with Osoolos, enforcement, and
available in Spanish. The project has since evolved into an Inter- British Columbia, Which, It was discowen!d, the county health
The local telephone national mllllement involvi~ hundreds of participates in that llllMnce's healthy com- dep.. hu"ut.Among
company printed a cities worldwide, Barcelona, Munich. and the many innova.
companion mini. Stockholm ere three of the 30 European munities network, live slI'ateaies were
phone book of the cities participating In the WHO Project. For more information on the California worksite education
names and phone Additionally, there are three International Project or any atheJr IlNhhy cII1es P/'OI#-,,,,, programs for pri-
numbers of over and seventeen national networks - inclucl- COntact the Califomia HeaIttty atIes PrrIect. vale employers, in-
200 community or. ing the United Stetes end Australia, Health Promotion Section, P.O. Box aeased "buckle up"
ganizations. Provincial networks are operating in 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, signage through-
An all-out com- Quebec and 8ritish Columbia. (916) 322-6851 out the communi.
munity effort resuk. ty, and a safety belt
ed in all 8.000 pledge contest in
Duarte households pants are recent immigrants, conjunction with
receiving a free copy of the guide, Over 100 A close working partnership with staff the high school senior prom. Local bus~
volunteers delivered guides. The first wave from the Alhambra Health District has been nesses contributed prizes, including din-
of evaluation results have found a guide re- mutually beneficial Health department staff ners, limousine rides, and tuxedo rentals.
tention of 90 percen~ favorable marks for as incentives to pledge, Purchased and
helpfulness; and more appropriate referrals have developed a tobacco education series
being made, for lAMP. Jim Roberts, lAMP Coordinator, donated promotional items were extreme-
Duarte also incotpOrated a health promo- co<:hairs a district tobacco control working Iy useful in maintaining awareness,
lion message in its free COmmunity calen- group, contributing his perspective on how With the seat bell program entering its
dan;, Rose Bowl Float, city picnic, and ann... to reach special population, maintenance phase, the water safety Jll'OIlI'8II1
al family wilderness day. Terry Fitzgerald, Class discussions have concentrated on has recently IlOllen unde!"way.lt aims to pre-
Environmental CounseL reports, 'There are health topics such as substance abuse. safe- vent drowning, near-drowning, and other
lots of ways you can expand on the Healthy ty, and nutrition, Smoking cessation classes waterreIated ~ especiaDy surrounding
Cities concept. . , without spending a lot of have been offered in both Mandarin and residential pools. Research has begun on the
eXtra money and yet benefit a lot of people English. An anticipated benefit of the discus- establishment of a tracking mechanism for
in the process." sion COIDpOnent of the classes is expected to water-related il\iwies and deaths. 3
WESTERN em, OCTOBER 1991 ITEM 6
DEe 5 1995
12 of 13
-
.- Given the importance of education in the Cities Steering Committee to develop the though unsuccessful. attempts to quantify
battle against AIDS, !he City of Long Beach city's Integrated Waste Management Plan, Pasadena's livability. The Healthy Cities
chose "AIDS in tne Workplace" as its (During year one. the city involved the Project provided the impetus to delve anew
Healthy Cities project. Programs were deo;eI. committee and the conununity in the deler- into this timely, but somewhat murky. sub-
oped to convey acCW1lle information about mination of the architectural design of its ject. The city rallied the involvement of mw.
AIDS and HIV transmission. as well as to aJ. community center,) tiple interests within the City and obtained
leviate unwarranted fears about the disease, Working closely with city staff, the substantial donations from Kaiser Perma-
Specific activities included worksite sem- Healthy Cities Committee has explored a nente and the Southern California Gas
inars for some of the largest city-based full spectrum of potential program compo- Company (or their work on this project
employers, including McDonnell Douglas nents such as tiered rate structures. res;. The city's long.range goal is to produce a
and the Long Beach Unified School DiSlric:t dential and municipal composling, mobile Quality of life Index. or report card, which
The city's new employee orientation will be issued annually to gauge
now has an AIDS education compo- Pasadena's physical social, and eco-
nenl Paycheck inserts, with in- nomic well-being, The city's per.
fonnation on AIDS, were printed formance in e~ key areas will
in English and Spanish and pro- be assessed. These include: arts
vided to employers for distribu- and culture, children and youth,
tion, AIDS Week, held last economic viability, environment,
March, included a fund-raising health, housing, public safety,
walk and a display of the Names re-creation. schools and educa-
Project AIDS Memorial Quilt at the A pp1ications fer min;.sr.tts of $20.000 fer si. cities tion. substance abuse and trans-
Queen Mary. . or $35,000 for cltles working in partnership are due porlotion. In the first phase of the
Environmental October 31 to the California Smoke-Free Cities Projecl over 150 community mem-
Program. The grants are aimed at helping cities become bers identified priority objectives in
Preservation healthier communltles by establishing environments in an alklay exploratory forum, Sub-
As a newly incorporated city, Santa which tobacco use is not acceptable, sequently, neighborhood associa-
Clarita has 0\lP0rtWIilies to aealr an tions and community groups were
ideal 21st century community. Open Califomia Srnok&-Free Cltles staff will be available for asked for their reaction to the pro-
space presenoation, acquisition. and consultallon, technical assistance, answers to all your posed priorities,
access~onSanloCbrita'snrs~ questions at the League's Annual Conference, Office The second phase has involved a
year Healthy Cities agenda. Two ini- hours are SCheduled for 1:304:30 on Monday, October technical advisory committee com-
tiatives Iurie been undertaken to eo- 14. and from 9:QO.5:00 on Tuesday, October 15, in the prised of community leaders and
list community involvement. Carmel Room at the Hilton, subject matter experts from several
The first was the development of educational institutions. The tasks of
a long.range plan for the Santa Califomla SmoI<&free Cities, sponsored by the Califomia identifying appropriate measures
Clara River, The resulting report Healthy Cities Project, is 8 partnership of the League of and data - in terms of source. avaiJ.
commends the study as "an excep- CaIIIomia CIties. Mle.UD for Nonsmokers' ~, and the ability, frequency with which it is coI-
tional example of the consensus HeaIlh 0ItIcers Associllllon of California, The State Oepart- IecIed. and geographica\ appropriate-
process for developing master men! d Health 5er1Iices qnented their grlIllto Smoke- ness - has begun. Ultimately, the
plans for major recreation and natu- Free CillllS for the pwpose of awarding the mini-grants, Index will be used to prioritize
health and human service needs
ral resources within communities." ~ tlrthe p1ls hIM! been kept fteU* to allow within the city, City Manager Philip
Many of its components have been
incorporated into the city's recently cities to address their own needS and to foster creative Hawkey explains. " . , , the Project
adopted general plan, A three-mile plans to discclunlIe IDbacco use in local alIm1UI1ilies. and has allowed us to transform a theo-
section of a trail system along the the application process is simple. Application forms are retical concept of defining a healthy
River's South Fork has been lMIilable from Anne Klink. Project Coordinator. (916) 322. city into a concrete plan of action for
approved. The second project has 1528, or Jo8'I Hogan 8llhe League, (916) 444-5790, creating a livable community,"
involved the development of hill- An Approach
side and ridgeline standards. Any City Can Use
Jeff Kolin, Deputy City Manager, collection of household hazardous wastes.
speaking at the statewide Project confer- and incentM!s. The resuh of the Arcata pro- Even though the ten Charter Healthy Cities
ence last May commented. "The Healthy ject will be a blueprint for other communi- may have been on the nrst wave of innova-
Cities program matches up very closely ties to comply with AB 939. the statewide tion. the Healthy Cities approach can work
with the type of philosophy and approach mandate for waste stream reduction. in any city, With vision, community partic.
that our community is developing. We're ipation. a commitment to put health - in its
putting a lot of thought into planning now Development Of New various forms - high on the city's agenda.
for the future so that we can have the qual- Methods To Measure And and the energy to make it happen, any city
ity of life that will allow us to be a healthy Enhance Quality Of Ute can become a healthy city, In welcoming
city in the Year 2000 and beyond." others. Duarte's Fitzgerald says, "There's a
A successful waste management effort While all of the previously mentioned pro- lot of value in becoming a healthy city and
depends upon the cooperation and partici- grams focus on one or more aspectS of qual- I would encourage other cities to just jump
pation of everyone in the conununity, In its ityoflife. the City of Pasadena chose to tack. right In."
second year of participation in the Project. Ie the subject head on. A long-standing .
4 the city of Arcata has utilized its Healthy interest in this topic had fueled previous. aI-
LEAGUE OF CA1lFORNIA CITIES DEe 5 1995 ITEM .6
13 of 13
-~._....~._.._- -"-~~_.._._.-