WHAT IS REHDI?

The Reducing and Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative, or REHDI, is a public-private partnership between the County of San Diego, Chronic Disease and Health Disparities, and community partners. Its mission is to reduce and eliminate health disparities using the framework of community environments. The framework has been championed by Board Chair, Supervisor Greg Cox and the County of San Diego Public Health Officer, Dr. Wilma Wooten, bringing political support and widespread momentum to REHDI efforts.

WHY COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS?

In September 2007, the REHDI Steering Committee adopted community environments as the framework for addressing health disparities in San Diego County. The community environments framework recognizes that Place Matters – where we live affects how we live.  Our health is directly impacted by the everyday choices we make, and those daily choices are influenced by our surrounding environment; for example:

Choice	Environmental Influence	Health Outcomes
Dinner for the family	Food outlets in close proximity to home A community with limited access to fresh, healthy food outlets promotes unhealthy food choices.	Obesity Diabetes Heart Disease
Mode of transportation	Walkability / Bikeability Residents are less likely to choose active transportation in a community lacking complete streets, safe sidewalks, lighting, and bike lanes. Access to public transit A community lacking easy access to public transit encourages residents to use personal vehicles which increase traffic, congestion, motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, and air pollution.	Asthma Obesity Diabetes Heart Disease
Physical activity	Access to parks, safe streets, and recreational facilities If community members feel unsafe outdoors or have limited access to parks and other recreational facilities, they are less likely to engage in physical activity.	Obesity Diabetes Heart Disease

UPCOMING EVENTS
                
Unnatural Causes is a documentary series that sheds light on how work, wealth, neighborhood conditions, and lack of access to power and resources can actually makes us sick. 

Unnatural Causes will broadcast on KPBS San Diego on Thursday, March 27 at 7:00pm.

REHDI is partnering with KPBS to host a Town Hall Meeting relating to this series. Please check back as more information will be available soon.