Californians are being challenged once more to find new and innovative ways to get healthy.
The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced Wednesday the launch of the second-annual Innovation Challenge from Let’s Get Healthy California: a statewide, collaborative effort to “improve the health of every Californian.”
“California is known for setting the pace, spurring innovation and improving health,” said CHHS Secretary Diana S. Dooley in a press release. “Through this Innovation Challenge, Let’s Get Healthy California encourages all of us — state policymakers to local communities to individuals — to find groundbreaking ways that will help make California the healthiest state in the nation.”
This year’s theme focuses on what LGHC is calling the “social determinants of health,” which they define as “the conditions in which people are born and live.” This includes the issues of housing, hunger, poverty, education, jobs, safety, discrimination and exposure to crime and violence, among others.
“Every year, we learn more about how profoundly the conditions in which we begin our lives and where and how we live those lives affect our health,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith in the same release. “Health begins in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities.”
To submit an idea or to find more information, visit the Let’s Get Healthy California website at letsgethealthy.ca.gov or by emailing LGHC@cdph.ca.gov
