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Across the country we see rising rates of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart-disease and asthma. Research shows that the built environment, the ways in which we built our cities, town and infrastructure, contributes significantly to the health of our communities. Increasingly, planners and health professionals are coming together to consider community design that promotes physical activity, access to fresh fruits and vegetables, easy walkability, public transportation and neighborly cohesion.
The choices individuals make are shaped by the choices that they have - good policy and land use decisions ensue healthy spaces for everyone.
In 2004, members of the San Mateo County community came together for the first Healthy Communities Summit and launched an initiative to eliminate health disparities. The purpose of the initiative is improving the overall health and well-being of San Mateo County residents, paying particular attention to communities with adverse health outcomes and higher mortality/morbidity rates than other areas/communities. As one component of this goal, the San Mateo County Health Department (SMCHD) is working in close collaboration with cities and planning agencies to bring health considerations into development and land-use decisions.
SMCHD is available as a resources throughout policy review processes such as the General or Precise Plan, providing technical assistance, data or policy review, and presentations.
For more information, please contact Angela Sajuthi, Community Program Specialist, at asajuthi@co.sanmateo.ca.us.
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