Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is a government agency dedicated to providing preventive health services to the community. Formed in 1955, it is the special-purpose district responsible for the improving the health of the citizens of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. The main office of the BCHD is located in the city of Redondo Beach, California; its primary youth fitness facility is located in the city of Manhattan Beach.
The purpose of Health Districts in California is to provide health facilities or health services for the benefit of the district and the people served by that district. As a government agency, a health district has the power to exercise the right of eminent domain, secure financing through assessment of tax levy, and issue bonds.
History
Health care districts were founded in California during the late 1940s in response to a lack of medical services in rural areas. State legislature passed the "Local Health Care District Law" authorizing communities to form special districts that built and operated hospitals and health care facilities. Los Angeles County formed the District to build and operate the South Bay Hospital. In 1998 the hospital ceased to operate as a hospital since nearby Little Company of Mary Hospital and Torrance Memorial hospitals served the community more than adequately.
Blue Zone
Blue Zone is a concept used to identify a demographic and/or geographic area of the world where people live measurably longer lives, particularly marked by physically active centenarians. Beach Cities Health District succeeded in being the top finalist among 55 communities vying to become the next Blue Zone in a joint venture with HealthWays and a team of experts to work on a pilot program to make the next Blue Zone on earth through healthy community initiatives. Working in concert with the three city governments, school district and local employers, the goal is to improve the health of residents through making policy-level environmental improvements.
In January 30, 2012, Blue Zones survey data provided by Gallup Polls showed many health indicators up in beach cities, most notably: 14 percent drop in obesity, 3.6 percent decrease in smoking (seven percent of residents report smoking compared to 10.6 percent previously), and 5.6 percent increase in residents exercising at least 30 minutes three times a week.
After three years as a joint venture with Nashville-based HealthWays, the program was approved by the governing board of the Beach Cities Health District to continue as a completely District-funded project, furthering the mission of the District and continuing on the path established by the accomplishments achieved in the first two years.
Organization
The BCHD has a governing board of 5 members, elected by the voters of the three beach cities. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCHD reports to the Governing Board and the following departments report to the CEO:
The structure of the management and coordination of district services is:
Administrative departments
- Executive and Administration
- Accounting, Treasury, Information Systems and Facilities
- Human Resources and Risk Management
Operational departments
- Youth Services
- AdventurePlex
- School Health Physical Education and Nutrition
- Adult Services
- Center for Health and Fitness - a medically oriented gym and classes
- Health Education
- Health Information and Emergency Preparedness
- Senior Services
- Peer Counseling and Support Groups
- Volunteer Management
- Case Management and In-home care assessment
Funding
According to the district's most recent audited financials, the District's various funds had $10.8 million in Revenues, $12.1 million in expenditures, $84.5 million in total assets, $2.4 million in total liabilities, and $32.0 million in cash and investments.
BCHD is a government agency, but according to the most recent audited financials, "80% of the District's services were financed with funding sources other than taxes." Total revenues of the District are $10.8 million. About 19% of BCHD's funding is derived from property taxes, 24% from fees derived from user fees for health-related services such as fitness classes and the balance from other sources such as property leases (16%), interest (24%) and partnerships (15%). Total assets of the District are $84.5 million and total liabilities of the District are $8.8 million. It has $32.0 million in cash and investments.
According to the current year's budget message, the District had not had positive cash flow in nine of the most recent ten years and despite economic pressures of real estate and interest rates is budgeting a positive cashflow for the second year of a turnaround.
Operation
Youth Services
BCHD offers provides programs and supports funding for physical education, nutrition education, childhood obesity prevention, counseling for substance abuse, social skills and drop-out intervention for school-age children. Programs are aimed at educating children and their parents about healthy lifestyle choices. Youth Services also oversees AdventurePlex, BCHD's children's fitness center in Manhattan Beach.
AdventurePlex
AdventurePlex is BCHD's fitness center for kids and families, a health and fitness center in Manhattan Beach, created for youth that bridges fitness with recreation. The facility has a four-level indoor play structure with tunnels and slides, two outdoor rock climbing walls, an outdoor ropes course, a sports court, and a gym for kids and parents. AdventurePlex provides classes such as karate, dance, volleyball, and day- and week-long camps during weeks that schools are out such as summertime, spring break and Christmas break.
School Health Services
School Health Services provides a variety of physical, mental and social health programs for children in the beach cities public schools. Services provided include health education for elementary students; physical education for children kindergarten through sixth grade; lifeskills and substance abuse education for middle school students; and obesity prevention education at the elementary level.
Adult Services
Adult Services focuses on improving the health and wellness of adults who reside in the beach cities through fitness classes, health screenings, wellness classes, support groups and educational programs.
Health Education
BCHD offers wellness classes, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated external defibrillator (AED) training, health screenings, support groups and education classes for health professionals. It also promotes health and preventive care to the beach cities through community campaigns and by helping residents find needed services.
Center for Health and Fitness
The Center for Health and Fitness is a medically based fitness facility. The Center has a 17,000 sq ft (1,600 m2). gym with cardio and weight equipment, certified personal trainers, group exercise classes, child care, massage, nutritional counseling, yoga classes, T'ai chi for Arthritis and locker rooms. The Center serves people of all ages and physical conditions with a large senior constituency. All instructors hold a college degree in a health-related discipline, and/or are certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine and National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Center for Pilates and Movement Therapy
Pilates focuses on integration of the entire body, strengthening the abdomen, hips and lower back. The Center for Pilates and Movement Therapy offers classes including Mat, Reformer, Feldenkrais, Gyrokenisis, Arthritis Foundation Exercise and Prenatal Pilates.
Nutrition
Beach Cities Health District offers nutrition consultations through a registered dietitian specializing in preventive approaches to chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, elevated blood lipid and adult, teenage and child obesity.
Senior Services
Senior Services provides services to improve the quality of life and maintain the independence of older and disabled beach cities residents. These include home visits and assessments, links to health and community services and advocacy, ongoing contact and care plans, fitness and wellness programs, support services including peer counseling, a conversation companion program, errand volunteers, general support groups and educational programs on age-related issues.
See also
ArrayReferences
ArrayExternal links
- BCHD website
- California Special Districts Association
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