On Thursday, January 16, 2014, The Health Trust launched a new five-year plan at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. CEO Frederick J. Ferrer outlined plans to invest $80 million over the next five years to advance three initiatives: Healthy Living, Healthy Eating and Healthy Aging. Dr. Julie Gerberding, former Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discussed the role that public policy plays in determining the health of a community. And five candidates for Mayor of San Jose shared their views on the City’s role in improving health.
Here is a a summary of the day.
Looking back: The Impact of The Health Trust
Who We Are: The Mission of The Health Trust
Message from the CEO
Frederick J. Ferrer,
CEO of The Health Trust
Excerpts from Mr. Ferrer’s remarks:
As we look to the next five years, we are faced with the ever-widening income gap. We live in one of the wealthiest areas in the world and yet we have a growing poverty rate. We need to become uncomfortable with this ‘Tale of Two Cities’ reality.
We reject the notion that some lives matter less than others. And our talk isn’t cheap: we pledge with your support to invest $80 million into these efforts over the next five years. We have our work cut out for us, but we are confident that with our staff, grantees, donors and partners we can and must make this the healthiest place in America for everyone.
Some innovative projects we will be unveiling soon:
Health Trust Meals – We currently serve about 70,000 hot meals a year to our Meals On Wheels clients. We pledge to double our number of meals served in the next five years by developing a social enterprise to sell healthy meals to the general public and returning the profits to subsidize Meals On Wheels for low-income seniors and disabled adults.
One-Stop Health Shop – With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, we are organizing a task force to develop a retail model to deliver all prevention services in one setting. These services will be paid for by hospitals, health plans and the newly insured. We have begun preliminary work on this model by opening The Health Market at the Berryessa Flea Market.
Good. To Go. – We are launching several projects to improve health in low-income neighborhoods by making fresh produce and other healthy food readily available. They include Fresh Carts, a mobile produce vending program; small farmers’ markets, healthy corner stores and salad bars in schools. In conjunction with this effort, we are going to promote a line of products that are healthy and convenient. Look for our brand: Good. To Go. Fast, Fun, Fresh.
Keynote Address
Dr. Julie Gerberding
President, Merck Vaccines
Former Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Excerpts from Dr. Gerberding’s remarks:
This country spends more and more money on medical treatment, but we are not creating more health. Health is not created in hospitals. Health is not a state of being. Health is a natural resource.
If we thought about health the way we think of our other natural resources, we would realize we need to invest in it. We need to protect it. We can invest in it. We can grow it over time the way we invest in our retirement accounts.
If we are going to conquer obesity, we need to move beyond the simple theory that knowing will change behavior. If knowing were enough, then no one would still smoke cigarettes. it takes more than education to change behavior. It takes policy change. People change behavior because they get a nudge. Our leaders need to understand this.”
San Jose Mayoral Candidate Forum
Participants: Santa Clara County Supervisor David Cortese, San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen and San Jose City Councilmembers Sam Liccardo, Rose Herrera and Pierluigi Oliverio. Moderators: Paul Hepfer, Vice President/Programs, The Health Trust; and Jennifer Loving, Executive Director, Destination: Home.
In the first candidate forum of the 2014 campaign season, candidates for Mayor of San Jose answered questions about local health problems and how they will advance their health agendas if elected.
Breakout Sessions with Initiative Directors
Lori Andersen, Director of the Healthy Aging Initiative
Erin Healy, Director of the Healthy Eating Initiative
Paul Hepfer, Director of the Healthy Living Initiative
In a series of breakout sessions, Health Trust initiative directors outlined their five-year plans. The following strategy maps lay out the Initiative goals and plans for reaching those goals.
Healthy Aging Initiative strategy map
Healthy Eating Initiative strategy map
Healthy Living Initiative strategy map