Governor Calls for Deep Cuts to Close Budget Gap. Governor Schwarzenegger unveiled his 2010-11 Budget proposal on January 8th, with severe cuts to health and human services totaling close to $2.9 billion.

Community Health Headlines: Streamlined Permitting Could Promote Healthy Development. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa renewed his pledge to streamline the permit process for new construction as part his administration’s emphasis on economic development and jobs creation.

Congressional Resolution Supports Fresh Food Financing. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-Penn.) introduced a bi-partisan resolution for a national program to provide an effective and economically-sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods in underserved communities.

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The California Endowment launches Building Healthy Communities, a 10-year strategic plan to improve health systems and the physical, social, economic and service structures that support healthy living and healthy behaviors in 2010. CHC was chosen to lead the planning effort that lasts until February 2010. During this phase, residents and leaders from non-profit, faith-based, business and public sector organizations will work together to identify policy and administrative changes to help achieve a healthy South LA.  Learn how you can become involved in this effort to create places where children and youth are healthy, safe and ready to learn.

The California Endowment lanza Construir Comunidades Saludables, un plan estratégico de 10 años para mejorar los sistemas de salud y el bienestar físico, social, económico y estructuras de servicios que apoyan la vida sana y hábitos saludables en el 2010. CHC fue elegido para dirigir el esfuerzo de planificación que dura hasta Febrero del 2010. Durante esta fase, los residentes y líderes de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, basada en la fe, las empresas y organizaciones del sector público trabajarán juntos para identificar los cambios políticos y administrativos para contribuir a lograr un sano Sur de LA. Aprenda cómo usted puede participar en este esfuerzo para crear lugares donde los niños y los jóvenes son sanos, seguros y listos para aprender.

The South Los Angeles Health Equity Scorecard is the culmination of a multi-year study by Community Health Councils on the disparities that South LA residents face every day in their efforts to achieve good health.  The Scorecard challenges local cities and communities to work with community organizations, businesses, and faith-based leadership to develop a coordinated, comprehensive strategy for improving health outcomes in South LA.

A Los Angeles Times editorial cites the Scorecard to indicate that residents in South Los Angeles have a fraction of the physicians, hospital beds and preventive facilities per capita available elsewhere in Los Angeles County. Data from the Scorecard report were used in the Huffington Post to illustrate how woefully underserved the residents of South LA are by the healthcare system.

The Scorecard analyzes and documents over 50 indicators of health for Healthcare and Physical Environment Resources and their six sub-areas.  It then provides key recommendations to end the inequities in power, income, goods, and services.