South County makes strides against growing health challenges

Our nation’s health is in crisis: chronic disease is on the rise, health care costs are soaring, and health inequities are growing. Today’s children are facing illness historically associated with adults, and their life expectancy may be shorter than their parents. These negative health trends are magnified in South County where the prevalence of chronic diseases is disproportionately higher and life expectancy is lower than Santa Clara County overall. 
How can these health challenges be reversed? Focusing solely on individual behavior change has historically been the dominant approach, assuming that if you teach people what will make them healthy, they will find a way to do it. Now, there is increasing recognition that the environments in which people live, work, learn, and play have a profound impact on their health. As an Institute of Medicine quote states, “It is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior easily when so many forces conspire in the social, cultural, and physical environment against such change.”
Re-shaping the environment to support healthy behavior makes healthy choices practical and available to all community members. In essence, the healthy choice becomes the easy choice. This is the focus of South County: United for Health, which is charged with bettering the health of South County residents by increasing healthy options in schools, the work place, parks, and in the broader community.   
Monumental strides toward improved health already achieved in South County. Through the support of a Leadership Team composed of over 30 South County leaders, major accomplishments have been achieved through South County: United for Health. For instance, the City of Morgan Hill recently passed a Tobacco Retail License policy that will reduce youth access to tobacco products. Over 70 staff and parent volunteers from Morgan Hill Unified School District and Gilroy Unified School District have participated in evidence-based training to promote physical activity with students. Additionally, 19 South County businesses and nonprofits have adopted Worksite Wellness Guidelines to increase the availability of healthy options for employees, such as increased healthy food/beverages, breastfeeding accommodations, tobacco-free environments and physical activity.
Support for environmental change strategies to improve health is needed in Gilroy. The City of Gilroy has a unique opportunity to transform the health of residents by joining a growing number of local cities in adopting a Tobacco Retail License Ordinance to prevent youth from accessing harmful tobacco products. Moreover, many stand to benefit from the City’s commitment to increase healthy options for City employees and residents. These decisions will come before the Gilroy City Council in the months ahead, and we encourage the City Council to take the bold steps needed to create a healthier and better Gilroy.
Sincerely,
Erin O’Brien
Co-Chair of the South County: United for Health Leadership Team
Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate
South County: United for Health Leadership Team Member
Javier Aguirre
South County: United for Health Leadership Team Member
Gilroy resident and former GUSD School Board Trustee