RLHPF Confrence Booklet 2020 Final - Flipbook - Page 1
Mariana Osorio | Claremont Graduate University
Improving Population Health in Riverside
County by Mariana Osorio
There have been 3 major initiatives undertaken to bridge
the gap between public health and city planning:
1.
Riverside County is comprised of a diverse community, all of
whom have various barriers to receiving quality care which
can exacerbate social determinants of health.
Did you know that compared to its neighboring county (Los
Angeles County), where almost 28% of residents are
considered obese, 32% of the total population in Riverside
County classify as obese? This is because the average body
mass index (BMI) of Riverside County is of 30 or higher. Keep
in mind that a BMI over 25 is considered overweight.
As health leaders have proved, lack of physical activity and
infrequent consumption of fruits and vegetables increases the
likelihood of developing heart disease issues, suffering from a
stroke, or getting diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.
With this in mind, Riverside University Health System – Public
Health has developed Healthy Communities Element, with
the aim of addressing the intersection of public health and
city/urban planning. This includes focusing n issues such as
transportation and active living, access to nutritious foods,
access to health care, mental health, quality of life, and
environmental health.
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2.
3.
The SB1000 Forum and Roundtable, where
environmental justice and public health stakeholders
met to collaborate on ways to implement and improve
regional implementations of SB1000, a policy that
requires counties and cities in California to address
environmental health concerns and implement
environmental justice ideals into their city planning
objectives.
The preparation and publishing of the HCN Connect
Newsletter on a monthly basis
The creation and publication of profiles on all 28
Riverside County cities based on various health indices
The dissemination of city profile fact sheets/ infographics
would be a good way for stakeholders and residents of these
cities to understand whether their cities are in good health
standing or if residents are experiencing poor health
outcomes.
These infographics have the potential to impact
city policies if taken to a city official and would be
crucial in justifying future public health initiatives
within Riverside County.
Breaking down the data will allow the public health
department to tailor their programs to the needs within their
communities and implement innovative strategies for
residents in various geographical areas shown in poor health.
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