Mission

The mission of Get Healthy San Mateo County (GHSMC) is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop strategies that will reduce and prevent obesity and other health risks of unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity among all children in San Mateo County.

 

Accomplishments 

Watch a video of GHSMC Accomplishments from 2005-2010 and check out an evaluation of the first 5 years!

Safe Routes to Schools 
Congratulations to the Cities of East Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos and South San Francisco for being selected to receive funding from Caltrans for Safe Routes to School projects!  These cities will be increasing the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by improving unsafe streets and promoting walking and bicycling to children, parents and the community. View the full list of Caltrans Approved Projects.

Healthy Neighborhood Stores
Watch this great VIDEO featuring youth and staff of the Youth Leadership Institute and YO! Mateo and their recent healthy makeover of a neighborhood store La Guadalupana Carniceria, 55 Fifth St. in Redwood City! 

 

Funding Opportunities 

2012 Community Benefit Grant Program
The Kaiser Permanente's 2012 Community Benefit Grant Program provides financial support to local nonprofit health and human service organizations with an emphasis on underserved populations.  Every three years, Kaiser Permanente San Mateo Area participates in an extensive needs assessment in the San Mateo County to identify the health and social needs of our community.  This comprehensive assessment is used as a guide for strategic planning to support community programs and collaborative efforts in our communities. For 2012, Kaiser Permanente has identified the following critical needs in the San Mateo Area’s culturally diverse communities. South San Francisco and Redwood City (including surrounding communities): Obesity Rates by: 1) increasing physical activity in institutional settings and 2) increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables; Improve Access to Health Insurance Coverage and Health Care Services by 1) Increasing the number of low income people enrolled in or maintaining health insurance coverage. 2) Increasing access health care services for low income and uninsured individuals at risk for chronic conditions. 3) Increase access by providing transportation for high need seniors to their medical appointments; At Risk Youth Behavior by 1) decreasing rates of teen alcohol and substance abuse 2) reducing depression among teens 3) reducing pregnancy rates (in Redwood City area only); Poor Health in Aging Population by 1) Increasing access to social services for seniors 2) help seniors remain physically and mentally active and eat nutritious food; Violence by 1) protecting victims and their families from domestic violence.  Depending on the scope of your project, usually grant requests are in the range of $5,000 to $35,000.  However, other dollar amounts will be considered, not to exceed $75,000.  You are encouraged to request and submit applications as early as possible. Deadline: March 15, 2012  

View more funding opportunities

 

Upcoming Events      

Healthy Communities Forum #1 
Mon., Feb. 6, 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
Join us for the first Healthy Communities Forum of 2012 to explore how the various facets of the health of our cities – economic, environmental, and social – intersect. Neil Maizlish, PhD with California’s Department of Public Health will present a new study which highlights the health and environmental benefits of active transport in the Bay Area. Please see flyer for additional information.

View more calendar events

Job Opportunities      

East Palo Alto Famer's Market Manager, Collective Roots 
For more information, please click here

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ravenswood Family Health Center
For more information, please click here

Part-Time Administrator, Thrive
For more information, please click here

Part-time Community Outreach Liaison, The HEAL Project 
For more information, please click here

Service Member, Food Corps
For more information, please click here 

Project Coordinator, Ag Innovations
For more information, please click here

Featured Sections

Announcements

 San Mateo County Leads California in Curbing Childhood Obesity!
Check out the great media coverage San Mateo County received recently for decreasing obesity rates by 5.6% between 2005-2010 (view the full report). While rates are still very high, 34% of children, our improvement is a real tribute to the work that communities have been leading over the last 7 years. 

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Congratulations to the 2011 Healthy Apply Awardees!
Ten San Mateo County schools are awarded with the Healthy Apple Awards in recognition for Excellence in Nutrition & Physical Activity.

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Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Today, children consume more sugary drinks (soda, sports drinks, flavored drinks and energy drinks) than milk.  Just one 12-ounce soda contains 9-10 teaspoons of sugar. Sugary drinks are one of the leading contributors to obesity in San Mateo County. Check out the recently published brief Sip on This and learn how you can take action!

Strategies for Improving Food & Physical Activity Environments

Get Healthy San Mateo County first began addressing childhood obesity, six years ago! Download the 2010-2015 Strategies for Improving Food & Physical Activity Environments.

Congratulations to the 2011-12 Community Implementation Funding awardees! To preview the list, please click here

Gardening and Sustainable Agriculture in San Mateo County

Did you know that over 60% of San Mateo County public schools have school gardens? Check out the Map of School Gardens  and learn what resources are available in your community, at your school and in your neighborhood and how you can get involved.

Free and Low-Cost Physical Activity Opportunities in Your Community

Get a free and low cost (less than $5/class) listing of physical activities available in your city. These events will not require registration and you can attend as many events as you choose.

As Fresh As It Gets campaign


Be healthy and reduce your carbon footprint by eating locally grown food with the San Mateo County "As Fresh As it Gets" campaign.

Free Monthly Produce Boxes for your Classroom
Sign up for a FREE harvest of the month tasting kit for your classroom.  Community Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF) is offering free monthly boxes of produce from February through May 2012 for classrooms that have 50% or more students participating/eligible in the free and reduced lunch program.  Please click here to complete your online application by 1/23 and (click here) to view a flyer about this program. Please contact Jenna Segal (jenna@caff.org) for more information about this project.