Press Release: San Joaquin Valley Counties Are Among Unhealthiest in California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
San Joaquin Valley Counties Are Among Unhealthiest in California
Annual release ranks California counties on health behaviors, environment and longevity
Residents of California’s San Joaquin Valley counties have more impediments to a healthy lifestyle than many of the state’s other counties, according to the fifth annual County Health Rankings . The report evaluates nearly every county in the nation on 29 factors that influence health. The 2014 data, released today, shows that Fresno, Kern and Stanislaus counties lag behind much of the rest of the state, coming in at 46, 54 and 35, respectively, out of the 57 counties evaluated.
“The County Health Rankings show us that where we live matters to our health,” said Laura Podolsky, Director of Healthy Communities for the Local Government Commission. “Having this information makes it possible for communities to see the unique health problems they face and create local solutions to address them. Visionary and innovative leaders across the San Joaquin Valley are working hard to create healthier communities, and I’m hopeful that we’ll see vastly improved numbers in the near future.”
Published annually by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI), the Rankings include factors such as smoking, employment, physical inactivity, and access to healthy foods. New measures for 2014 include housing, transportation, and mental health.
Key observations with respect to San Joaquin Valley counties:
- Fresno County ranks poorly in social and economic factors, with 40 percent of children in poverty compared to the statewide average of 24 percent, though air quality improved by 27 percent compared to 2013.
- Kern County fares badly in quality of life outcomes, with number of poor physical and mental health days 27 percent higher than the state average.
- Stanislaus County improved its ranking by one spot in 2014, though its 31 percent adult obesity rate is higher than the state average of 23 percent.
According to Keith Bergthold, Executive Director of Fresno Metro Ministry and past Assistant Director of Planning and Development for Fresno, “By creating environments in which people have healthy choices like recreation centers, bicycle and pedestrian-oriented streets and healthy food, communities can provide opportunities that promote better health. The Rankings underscore how important it is for communities to make it easier for kids to grow up healthy.”
A more detailed comparison of Kern, Fresno and Stanislaus counties compared to statewide averages across all Rankings factors can be found at:
http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/california/2014/compare?counties=019+099+029
The Local Government Commission (LGC) is working with elected leaders across the San Joaquin Valley to promote policies that increase access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. LGC’s focus on childhood obesity is made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the Leadership for Healthy Communities program.
LOCAL PRESS CONTACTS:
Fresno County
Lynne Ashbeck, Mayor, City of Clovis
Regional Vice President, Hospital Council of Northern & Central California
lashbeck@hospitalcouncil.net / Cell: (559) 284 – 9731
Dr. Ken Bird
Interim Health Officer, Fresno County Department of Public Health
To contact Dr. Bird, contact assistant Tina Starks who can be reached at 559-600-6449 or 559-600-3200 and tstarks@co.fresno.ca.us
Kern County
Bob Smith, Council Member, City of Bakersfield and Founder, Bike Bakersfield
bobsmith727@me.com / (661) 330-1404
Avtar Nijjer-Sidhu, Ph.D., R.D.
Senior Health Educator Environmental Health Division, Kern County Public Health Services Department
avtarn@co.kern.ca.us / Cell: 661-486-3793 / Office: 661-862-8782
* On March 26th, Avtar can be reached via cell before 10am and her office number after 10am
Stanislaus County
Jim DeMartini
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
DemartiniJ@StanCounty.com / (209) 525-4470
Dr. John Walker, M.D.
Public Health Officer, Stanislaus County Health and Human Services Department
JWalker@schsa.org / (209) 558-8804
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