CLEARLAKE >> According to a task force created to oversee Lake County’s wellness, residents are well on their way. In fact, a celebration marking the end of the first 100 days of the Way to Wellville initiative will be held on from 1 to 4 p.m. on April 30 at Yuba College, Clear Lake Campus. During the celebration plans for the next 100 days will be discussed.
The first 100-day implementation plan began on Jan. 1. In that time a task force was established consisting of members from the health care profession, economic development, county services, education, the Health Initiative Coordinating Council (HICCup) and the Health Leadership Network. In the first phase, the task force concentrated on development of a communication, education and outreach plan, the creation of an organizational structure, drafting budgets and identifying resources and investors. The committee was also responsible for keeping the national initiative on schedule.
Lakeport-based Health Leadership Network Director Susan Jen and recently retired Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook led a presentation of the program for the Clearlake City Council.
“We’re looking at what we can do to make people healthy, both physically and mentally,” Holbrook said.
Lake County was chosen, along with four other communities around the country, to be a part of the Wellville initative after a nationwide search that drew 42 applications from 26 states. Remaining communities include Clatsop County, Oregon; Greater Muskegon, Michigan; Niagara Falls, New York and Spartanburg, South Carolina. Each community will work with the organization, as well as a network of partners over the next five years to produce visible improvements in five measures of health and economic vitality.
The communities will receive support in the areas of data and measurement, evidence-based health solutions and innovative financing strategies, according to Rick Brush, of HICCup. Rigorous evaluation will measure the impact of specific health initiatives, reinforced by a coordinated, community-wide approach, while generating new insights and market opportunities for producing health.
“It’s not a grant and it doesn’t come with any money,” Jen said. “It provides resources.”
As for programs already in line with the Way to Wellville’s goals, such as the Healthy Clearlake Collaborative, Jen said the initiative will not replace or compete with them.
“That is a great example of alignment between the Way to Wellville and other programs,” Jen said.
“It’s not a matter of reinventing those,” Holbrook added. “It just giving them more juice.”
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
