Be Well: Lake County’s Online Resource for Health and Wellness
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Imagine living in a place where nature is your playground, nourishing food is readily available, and health-minded folks are eager to share their skills and services, and gather with the community in the name of health and happiness.
Does this sound like Lake County to you?
LakeCountyBeWell.com, a new online and mobile-friendly resource guide just launched to celebrate all the great healthy living resources that exist within the County and to encourage community members to engage with these resources. The website’s mission is “to provide clear, current information and resources for people who want to be and stay healthy in Lake County, California.” Pulling from several compilations, such as those put out by the Department of Education and the Area Agency on Aging, Lake County Be Well offers an all-in-one, comprehensive guide to all things healthy.
The main feature of this website is the healthy living guide, which is broken into five main sections: “Eat Well”, “Exercise and Play Well”, “Work Well”, “Think Well”, and “Living Well”. Everything from farmers markets to cooking classes to healthy food on the go, “Eat Well” has you covered. If you are looking for a new fitness class, the best bike routes, or dog friendly parks, these activities, and many more are await you at “Exercise and Play Well”. Job hunters can “Work Well” by finding out which employers take workplace wellness seriously. Under “Think Well”, you will find the means to keep your mind sharp, whether it’s visiting a mental health counselor or pursuing higher education. “Living Well” connects community members with volunteer opportunities, activities for families, and resources for healthcare, to name a few.
Lake County Be Well features a cheery color scheme with information that can be translated into five different languages. The guide highlights free and low-cost resources in the county, as there are countless affordable ways to be well. Although the Healthy Resource Guide is the main function, there is much more to explore. You can browse recipes ideas on the Blog, refer to the disaster recovery resource page, or watch personal stories, such as Bonnie Parrott’s journey to strength and healing on “I Am Lake County” videos. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, or know of a business, organization, or topic that should be featured on the website, you can submit a listing and/or a blog post.
In partnership with organizations such as Hope Rising and I Am Lake County, Lake County Be Well is the on-line home of the “I Am Lake County” campaign that features stories from real Lake County residents about healthy living, and overcoming obstacles to live a higher caliber life. These stories are featured as videos on the website, where you can watch, listen and learn about the strength, curiosity, and determination of your neighbors. Perhaps you will feel inspired to share your own story by uploading a video to YouTube.
“The ‘Be Well’ idea is not something new; it’s part of a greater movement,” said Jen Dalton, coordinator for the Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) grant. “Throughout the country, cities and counties have implemented ‘Be Well’ initiatives to increase awareness, improve community health and address chronic disease prevention and management.”
In celebrating the launch of this healthy resource guide, the PICH team and other motivated community members are promoting its use through the radio, engaging the Lake County Be Well Facebook page, sharing “I Am Lake County” videos, and displaying pamphlets in laundromats, doctor’s offices, and other various community gathering spots.
Recent Lake County studies, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showed that over 48% of those polled felt the biggest barrier to making healthy choices in Lake County was a “lack of information or resources for opportunities”. The next most common barrier stated was the “lack of a positive healthy outlook”. In such an abundant county, these voiced concerns make getting the word out about all the great resources and opportunities for healthy living imperative. In response to these concerns, the PICH collaboration created the Be Well Lake County website, with funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Whether you are looking for chronic disease management and prevention support, fresh, local foods or the best parks to bring your dog, Lake County Be Well is your guide to all things healthy in beautiful, bountiful Lake County. See for yourself at www.LakeCountyBeWell.com and share with friends and family!