268598 Public Health as a Catalyst to Reduce Chronic Disease and Obesity: A County's Response

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Mariel Mehdipour, MPH , Kern County Public Health Services Department, Bakersfield, CA
     
The Kern County Call to Action (KCCTA) is a community-wide response to the chronic disease and obesity epidemic faced by the county facilitated by the Kern County Public Health Services Department. The fundamental goal of this endeavor is to improve the health of all Kern County residents through environmental and policy changes that support healthy behaviors. This initiative, modeled after the Call to Action: San Diego County Childhood Obesity Action Plan, calls for every person in Kern County to be part of the solution. It is comprised of seven different domains: Business; Community-Based Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations and Youth Organizations; Early Childhood Education; Education; Government; Health; and Media. The presentation will review the KCCTA's history and the strategic plan it developed to guide this effort. It will also describe the domain structure which incorporates a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach to resolving this problem, recognizing their influence on both the individual and on their environment and whether or not healthy choices and behavior change are encouraged and maintained. Moreover, a discussion regarding the re-imagining of Public Health's role in community health planning and implementation will be provided.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Identify the benefits of addressing community health issues with a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach. Examine a model that addresses building momentum for action without being prescriptive. Describe strategies that emphasize policy and environmental changes and not just individual efforts. Describe a plan document that supports community partners in their efforts. Examine the new role of local health departments in facilitating community health.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Health Departments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked closely with the co-author to organize the Kern County Public Health Department's Call to Action efforts on Chronic Disease and Obesity intervention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3262.0: Community Approaches to Treatment