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Healthy Living
City awarded $15.6 million federal grant to combat obesity and encourage more active lifestyleOn March 19, 2010, Mayor Julián Castro, Director of Health Dr. Fernando Guerra, along with elected officials, celebrity guests and 150 children celebrated the award of a $15.6 million grant to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health).
“Our ultimate goal, as a community and a nation, must be to prevent the onset of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes from occurring in the first place,” said Mayor Castro. “Adopting policies that increase physical activity and promote healthy eating and living will strengthen our families and communities, while saving millions in health care costs associated with the treatment of chronic diseases.”
HHS awarded $372.8 million to the selected states, cities, towns, and tribes. The grantees will implement various community-selected strategies over the next two years via funds by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of the goals is for communities to support healthy choices among their residents through a variety of methods, including increasing the availability of healthy foods and beverages and improving access to safe places for physical activity. Metro Health will engage all sectors of the community and other City departments in its efforts to reduce and prevent obesity in children and adults. The initiatives will include plans for conducting community-wide physical activity events, improving the outdoor environment, encouraging more healthy menu options in restaurants, and increasing opportunities for the public to utilize recreational and fitness facilities at no cost. For more information, call Population-based Services Administrator Jennifer Herriott at 207-7052. To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit www.hhs.gov/recovery and www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery |
The
celebration at the Calderon Boys & Girls Club followed an
announcement by First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in
Washington D.C. that San
Antonio is one of 44 communities
receiving grants as part of the HHS’ Communities Putting
Prevention to Work program. The prevention and wellness
initiative supports public health efforts to reduce obesity,
increase physical activity, and improve nutrition critical
actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health.
“The
grant will allow us to attack this major public health issue in
a more comprehensive, cross-cultural manner through broad
sweeping policy, systems and environmental changes,” said Dr.
Guerra. “It also will allow us to address disparities that
exist in some of San Antonio’s communities due to lack of access
to healthy nutritious foods and high rates of chronic diseases
such as obesity and diabetes.”
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Office of the Mayor
Staff
- Robbie Greenblum
Chief of Staff to the Mayor, 210.207.7067 - Frances A. Gonzalez
Assistant to the Mayor, 210.207.8448 - Jaime Castillo
Communications Director - Senior Policy Analyst, 210.207.7083 - Jed Maebius
City Council Liaison, 210.207.8980 - Jeanne Russell
Education Policy Advisor, 210.207.8979 - Adam Greenup
Senior Policy Advisor, 210.207.5866 - Sarah McLornan
Constituent Services, 210.207.8998 - Patti Puente
Scheduler to the Mayor/Correspondence, 210.207.7069