In California, Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Griego has a finger on the pulse of her constituents—literally. Alarmed by rising childhood obesity rates and related health problems in her district, Griego decided enough is enough. Armed with a contagious can-do attitude and the support of her peers, Griego brought public health to the forefront by making access to fresh, local foods and physical activity a county priority. 

Yuba County has its fair share of challenges. In addition to having the third lowest per capita income in the state, the health of the county’s youth is in peril. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that almost 22 percent of children ages 5 to 19 in Yuba County were overweight. This rate increased 4.4 percent from 2005 figures. 

Reversing childhood obesity rates may seem daunting, but Griego is a seasoned veteran when it comes to tackling big issues. Griego decided to add on to her full-time duties as manager of her family’s restaurant, Duke’s Diner, to run for Yuba County Board of Supervisors in 2000. After winning in a landslide victory in 2000, her constituents showed their appreciation for her hard work by re-electing her in 2004 and again in 2008. 

Griego understands change does not occur in a silo. She has nurtured collaborations amongst various organizations and across jurisdictional boundaries, and brought in experts to help create solutions for improving the health and the quality of life of Yuba County residents. Partnerships among the Local Government Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Yuba First Five, Marysville Joint Unified School District, Yuba-Sutter Transit Agency, Yuba County Public Works and Planning Department and local residents have produced on-the-ground results and programs that respond to the area’s health needs. 

An example of a dynamic collaboration that Griego fostered includes the creation of a bi-county forum to address childhood obesity and safety issues, which has resulted in the elimination of junk food and soda at schools, introduction of salad bars and fresh fruit in cafeterias and the planning and construction of new sidewalks and bike lanes that provide children, adults and even seniors better access to physically active modes of transportation. 

Road corridors known for their high speeds and dangerous pedestrian environments were also targeted for improvements. Griego moved forward to improve one corridor located near an elementary by forging a partnership between the County and the school district to purchase roadside lights that flash at drivers who exceed the speed limit. The principal at the nearby elementary school has already noticed a drastic drop in vehicle speeds.

To ensure healthy habits start early, Griego spearheaded the effort to provide recreation opportunities for the youth. Yuba First Five now provides a recreation program for children ages 0 to 3 and the county compliments this effort with a similar program for children ages 3 and older. In addition, Griego joined forces with Yuba First Five to provide all children ages 0 to 5 in a three-county region with needed health and dental insurance. 

Griego also has worked to bring locally-grown, fresh produce to those who need it most. This past June, the first farmers’ market opened in an area with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Since youth are not typical shoppers, the county made it a point to create a market experience that is fun for all ages by organizing free musical performances by local youth and cooking demonstrations using seasonal produce. Healthy cooking demonstrations are also highlighted at the annual senior health fair, along with displays featuring potted vegetable gardens and health screenings.

To further reinforce public health as a part of Yuba County’s future, Griego teamed up with fellow Supervisor Hal Stocker to form an ad-hoc Committee on Healthy Communities in order to develop programs to reduce and prevent rising obesity rates in the county. The committee represents a spectrum of health advocates, such as physicians, school district representatives, local clinics, Yuba First Five and local government representatives. 

Griego hopes to include ideas generated by the Healthy Communities Committee in the General Plan that is currently being updated. She believes that  “incorporating public health goals, such as access to healthy foods and more walkable communities, into the General Plan ensures that Yuba County residents will benefit from a higher quality of health and life.”