History | Task Force Adopts New Name | Priority Areas | Task Force Committees | How to Get Involved | Task Force Meeting Documents | Task Force Newsletters | Contact Us
History
In May 2004, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the San Mateo County Health System convened a Healthy Communities Summit in response to evidence of local health disparities and with the goal of developing a plan to reduce them.¹ Participants of the Healthy Communities Summit identified the prevention of childhood obesity as a priority health concern and established the Get Healthy San Mateo County (GHSMC) Task Force. The Task Force spent a full year planning and developing the Blueprint for Prevention of Childhood Obesity: A Call to Action as a guide and tool for San Mateo County community members and leaders addressing the issue of childhood obesity.
Task Force Adopts New Name
In an effort to ensure that the name of the Task Force represents the vast work of the collaborative, a new name was adopted in December 2007. The former San Mateo County Prevention of Childhood Obesity (PCO) Task Force became the Get Healthy San Mateo County (GHSMC) Task Force. The new name is indicative of the many areas that Task Force members are working in, addressing childhood obesity, the root causes of health disparities and the many components that can make our communities healthy for all children.
Priority Areas
The GHSMC Task Force identified five priority areas: Healthcare, Preschool/Child Care Services, Afterschool Programs, Schools, and Community/Environment. In the first year of implementation, committees were formed to address these five priority areas. An Advisory Council oversees the activities and goals of the committees as well as the overall Task Force. The Advisory Council which meets bi-monthly, consists of co-chairs from the GHSMC committees. Most committees continue to meet regularly to influence their priority area and always welcome new members!
Task Force Committees
- Access to Healthy Food and Physical Activity Committee
- Afterschool Committee
- Launched the Healthy Apple Award Program, which recognizes the efforts of afterschool providers to implement healthy eating and physical activity as a component of their program
- Conducted two trainings for the California Parks & Recreation, District IV Bay Area Institute and the Youth Teen Recreation Service Meeting
- Conducted a Healthy Apple Award and nutrition training for Afterschool programs on March 23rd. Click below to view Healthy Apple Award materials.
- Contact Wale Adeniji (wadeniji@co.sanmateo.ca.us) or Curtis Chan (cuchan@co.sanmateo.ca.us) for more info
- Breastfeeding Committee
- Evaluation Committee
- Preschool/Childcare Committee
- School Wellness Policy Committee
- Committee awarded mini-grants to six school districts in the County. Funds will be used to implement a component of their school wellness policy. Mini-grant recipients will present at the mini-grant showcase on May 18, 2010.
- Contact Anna Lague (alague@rcsd.k12.ca.us) or Wale Adeniji
(wadeniji@co.sanmateo.ca.us) for more info
How to Get Involved
Are you interested in joining the Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force? Are you passionate about building healthy communities? If so, please contact us for more information at info@gethealthysmc.org.
Task Force Meeting Documents
April 2010
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes
- GHSMC Task Force Accomplishments Video
- FitFun Game Guide
- Building Health into San Mateo County Cities Toolkit
September 2009
- Agenda
- GHSMC Task Force Evaluation Presentation
- Blueprint Revision Process
- GHSMC Task Force Updates
- Unnatural Causes (What is Health Equity?)
March 2009
- Agenda
- Updates Presentation
- GHSMC Task Force Committee Updates
- GHSMC Task Force Website Stats (09/08 - 01/09)
- GHSMC Task Force Evaluation Report 07-08
September 2008
- Agenda
- Communication Plan
- Progress Report
- Ten Ways to Market the Clearinghouse Websites
Task Force Newsletters
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - February 2010
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - July 2009
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - December 2008
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - May 2008
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - February 2008
Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force Newsletter - December 2007
Prevention of Childhood Obesity Task Force Newsletter - October 2007
Contact Us
Are you interested in learning more about the work of the Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force? Do you have a question about the website? If you have any questions, please contact us at info@gethealthysmc.org.
¹ Health disparities are defined as differences in health status across population groups, whether defined by race or ethnicity, gender, social class, geographic location, or sexual orientation. http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2005/7630/7630.html