Local leaders grapple with a variety of community development and public health challenges as they craft and approve policies impacting children and families, including Healthy Eating-Active Living, Violence Prevention and Safety.

Why is Community Wellness important to Local Officials?

Local leaders grapple with a variety of community development and public health challenges as they craft and approve policies impacting children and families, including Healthy Eating-Active Living, Violence Prevention and Safety.

Mayors and Councilmembers are working with community partners to engage youth and families and developing healthier neighborhoods in northern and southern California cities.

Key elements, including promoting and prioritizing health and the intentional alignment of services and supports, lead to success.

Community Wellness: Keys to Success

• Leadership
• Incorporating Partners
• Staff Capacity
• Engagement of the Public
• Tailored Community Approach
• Building Momentum
• Vision for Community
• Achieve Positive Impacts on Community Wellness with Major Strides in Addressing:
  • Healthy Eating-Active Living
  • Violence Prevention
  • Safety

Panelists and Presentations

In a session at the League of Annual Cities 2015 Annual Conference three Mayors spoke about their experiences in creating and enhancing healthy and vibrant communities:

• Mayor Daryl Busch, City of Perris shared about the many successes of his city’s award winning Live Well Perris program and its growth into a fully funded health initiative that is now receiving county support.
• Mayor Pro Tempore Robb Davis, City of Davis spoke about the Healthy Families Initiative and specific efforts around safety for children, families and the needs of the college community including a restorative justice model.
• Mayor Dennis Michael, City of Rancho Cucamonga shared about the many attributes of the award winning Healthy RC program including policy changes to allow for gardening, youth development and leadership opportunities and working in partnership with the county.

The Mayors spoke about their programs and highlights included:

• Getting Started
• Partners
• Leadership Roles for Elected Officials and Staff
• Keys to Success
• Capacity-Building
• Maintaining Momentum over Time

About ILG’s Healthy & Vibrant Communities Project

The Institute for Local Government’s work on Healthy & Vibrant Communities is part of its 2015-2016 work program supported by Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs.  Work in this area aims to:

• Increase awareness of collaborative solutions and approaches among city, county and school officials and staff
• Develop materials on best practices for policy development and program implementation
• Support and increase collaborative efforts by cities and counties with capacity to focus on community-based solutions for safety, violence-prevention and healthy eating-active living.

Communities and partnerships are changing as local governments transform through funding and governance changes including realignments of social services and public safety, changes to funding for education and redevelopment. Impacts and opportunities are explored further in the Stretching Community Dollars Guidebook available online.