2019 Live Well San Diego Annual Impact Report
Local businesses and organizations are providing services and hosting activities that support and promote wellness for all individuals and families. Cultivating health for all ages involves making healthy choices accessible by mobilizing nutritious foods, creating opportunities for physical activity, and raising awareness and knowledge to improve disease prevention. This results in improved trends for Life Expectancy and Quality of Life for all San Diegans and helps residents live life to their fullest potential.
SUCCESS STORIES INFLUENCING HEALTH
Feeding San Diego provided 26 million meals for families, children, students, seniors, veterans and military families by rescuing food before it goes to the waste stream while it is still healthy and nutritious.
Rock Steady Boxing, a gym based in the City of Escondido, is empowered San Diegans living with Parkinson’s to fight back against the disease with boxing classes and other forms of rigorous physical and cognitive exercises.
Daily Harvest Express actively reached out to employers to bring wellness into the workplace by mobilizing their farmers’ market to be more accessible for employees.
Outdoor Outreach partnered with Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego to engage 24 youth in trauma-informed outdoor recreation programs for youth facing medical and mental health challenges to increase personal resiliency outside of the traditional therapy setting.
In May and June 2019, Heal Inc. and Words Alive partnered to provide free CPR/First Aid classes to more than 45 low income and underserved participants.
Be There San Diego, a coalition of patients, communities, healthcare systems and other organizations, Reduced Heart Attacks in San Diego County By 22% through their Heart Attack and Stroke Free Zone, Southeastern San Diego Cardiac Disparities Project, and Accountable Communities for Health collaboratives.
The County of San Diego teamed with volunteers and contracted doctors and nurses from the San Diego Rapid Response Network - a coalition of organizations and community leaders, including 10 Recognized Partner organizations, dedicated to aiding immigrants and their families in the San Diego border region - to provide more than 13,630 health screenings for asylum seekers.
Lean and Green Kids have reached more than 1,300 students in five schools across San Diego County with actionable information about the benefits of plant-based meals and encouraging students to think critically about daily actions, in order to make informed and conscientious food choices.
Christie’s Place made strides to curb poor health outcomes related to a sedentary lifestyle by encouraging staff to participate in a 70-Day Steps Challenge, where staff walked 4,936,057 steps or about 1,800 miles or the distance between San Diego and New Orleans.
Alliance Healthcare Foundation, a foundation working to advance health and wellness for those in need, offered $2 million in Innovation Initiative awards to social enterprises in San Diego County that support transformational thinking and action to improve systems related to health and wellness, including the Multicultural Health Foundation and Somali Family Service of San Diego.
Altman Plants reached nearly 1,000 employees with worksite wellness programs and events focused on improving employee health, boosting productivity and reducing health costs.
Through the collaborative efforts of the County of San Diego and the United States–Mexico Border Health Commission, Mexico Section, nearly 29,000 people received free blood pressure screenings at 152 sites across the six Mexican border states, in the Ventanillas de Salud in the Mexican consulates in the four US border states, and University of Arizona Primary Prevention Mobile Health Unit during the 2019 Love Your Heart event.
“It is very rewarding to see members build confidence and a support network free of stigma, and advocate for themselves for both their mental health and in their personal lives. I am always impressed with how committed members are to our program and to their recovery.”
- Kelly Villa, Program Manager at Mariposa Clubhouse operated by Mental Health Systems, Inc.
“HealthLink North County is about making connections. I like being able to see that someone we brought in to present at a HealthLink meeting is able to connect with someone at a school district (21 participate) to provide a resource that's going to help students and families. It is a great way to get information out to a broader group of people.”
- Melissa Roberts, Community Health Promotion Specialist with the County of San Diego
“Before telehealth, my previous appointments ... some of them I had to cancel or reschedule. (Telehealth) is great because I don't have to request a day off to take (my daughter) to the hospital, which I can't afford to do."
- Josie Ruiz, a single mom that works full-time and is a participant in La Maestra Community Health Center’s telehealth partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital.
MAKING IMPACT PERSONAL
When you meet 10-year-old Gabriella Martinez—Ella, for short—the first thing you will likely notice is her bright smile. Behind that smile are thousands of generous donors who provide the blood supply Ella needs. She has a blood disorder called beta thalassemia major that requires lifesaving blood each month from organizations like the San Diego Blood Bank.
“Ella doesn’t make any healthy red blood cells,” said Erica, Ella’s mom. “She wasn’t growing and had yellow skin and low energy.” At the suggestion of her caring doctors, baby Ella began receiving blood transfusions and started to improve.
Ella calls blood “beautiful.” And donors who meet her feel the beauty in the process too. Ella often visits blood drives or donor centers to thank the courageous people who help her stay healthy. Seeing the impact Ella has on other people—blood donors, friends and family, medical professionals—helps keep the Martinez family strong. Erica says that her family must be ambassadors for blood donation and all the medical professionals who help with it.
Henrietta enrolled in Skinny Gene Project Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in March of 2017. With the help of her coach, Nadin, Henrietta began making small sustainable changes to her lifestyle. She stopped skipping meals, began eating smaller portions, increased her exercise and water intake, and took photos to track her food. Her fifth week into her program, Henrietta set a goal of walking 3 times a week and began interval training to start running. By the completion of her 12-month program, Henrietta was running 7 miles! In addition to losing 62 pounds, 28% of her body weight, she lowered her blood pressure from 220/110 at 6 months to 111/67 at 12 months (a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80).
With access to a Diabetes Prevention Program and a supportive environment to help her succeed, the onus was on Henrietta to take the first step towards living a healthier lifestyle. In doing so, she acquired the knowledge needed to improve her own health.
The Skinny Gene Project has been providing the Diabetes Prevention Program in San Diego County since 2014. Three consecutive awards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have placed Skinny Gene Project among the top 3% of evidence-based diabetes prevention programs in the country.
READ MORE STORIES INFLUENCING HEALTH
NEWS | Sun Jun 30 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Chula Vista Elementary School Districts Recognizes School Wellness Champion
NEWS | Sat Jun 29 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Outdoor Outreach Partners with Rady’s to Build Resilience with Nature-Based Therapy
NEWS | Sat Jun 29 09:00:00 PDT 2019
USDA Healthier US Schools Challenge Awards For 7 Vista Unified Elementary Schools
NEWS | Thu Jun 27 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Save Lives By Getting First Aid Training for Free
NEWS | Thu Jun 27 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Trauma Research & Education Foundation Improves Safety for Residents
NEWS | Mon Jun 24 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Partners Take Action In North Region for Successful Blood Drive
NEWS | Sun Jun 23 09:00:00 PDT 2019
San Diego Health Connect Empowers Community to Build Health
NEWS | Fri Jun 21 09:00:00 PDT 2019
Planned Parenthood Improves Sexual Health in Region Through Education and Partnerships