Chapter 6.02
HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES
Sections:
6.02.040 Health in all policies framework.
6.02.060 Statement of general welfare.
6.02.010 TITLE.
This chapter shall be known as the Health in All Policies Ordinance.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).
6.02.020 DEFINITIONS.
The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall have the meanings defined in this section:
(a) “Equity” is both an outcome and a means to an end. It is just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or functional impairment, or geographic location, or the combination of any of these factors.
“Inequities” are unfair, avoidable, and unjust differences that are created when systemic barriers prevent individuals and communities from reaching their full potential.
(b) “Equality” is the quality of being regarded and treated as the same without considering need or circumstance. This differentiates equality from equity because equity involves treatment that enables people the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
(c) “Health equity” means the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities.
“Health equity” means efforts to ensure that all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable them to lead healthy lives.
“Health disparities” are differences of presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to care among distinct segments of the population, including differences that occur by race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education or income, immigration status, age, disability or functional impairment, or geographic location, or the combination of any of these factors.
(d) “Health in all policies” means a collaborative approach to improving the well-being of all people by incorporating health, sustainability, and equity considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas.
(e) “Public health” is the science of protecting the safety and improving the health of communities as a whole. The mission of public health is to promote conditions in which people can be healthy. This work is achieved by researching disease and injury prevention, education to promote healthy lifestyles, and public policy to address the health priorities of communities and populations at risk.
(f) “Social determinants of health and well-being” means those conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, sustainability and quality of life outcomes and risks. The social determinants of health include but are not limited to:
(1) The availability of resources to meet our daily needs (e.g., safe housing, access to healthy and affordable food);
(2) Access to educational, economic, and job opportunities that lead to sustainable employment;
(3) Neighborhood safety and communities free of crime, violence, and social disorder (e.g., presence of trash and other forms of blight);
(4) Accessible built environments that promote health and safety, mitigate emissions, improve parks and green space and healthy school siting; and
(5) Social norms attitudes (e.g., discrimination and racism), socioeconomic conditions (e.g., concentrated poverty and the chronically stressful conditions that accompany it).
(g) “Sustainability” can be thought of in terms of environmental, economic, and social impacts, and encompasses the concept of stewardship and the responsible management of resources. It can also mean creating and maintaining conditions so that humans can fulfill social, economic, and other requirements of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).
6.02.030 PURPOSE.
In order to eliminate inequities in health and well-being and attain equity, it shall be the policy of the city of Santa Cruz to apply a “health in all policies” approach and equity practices to the city of Santa Cruz’s decision-making, including policy development and implementation, budgeting, and delivery of services.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).
6.02.040 HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES FRAMEWORK.
The city of Santa Cruz shall develop a framework to measure equity, health and sustainability outcomes and improve the well-being of our community.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).
6.02.050 IMPLEMENTATION.
The following recommendations will be implemented within one year post-adoption of the Health in All Policies Ordinance:
(a) The analysis section of city council and commission agenda reports will contain a paragraph that addresses how the agenda report preparer considered the HiAP pillars.
(b) The functional procedures for integrating the HiAP framework into city operations will be defined in council policy.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).
6.02.060 STATEMENT OF GENERAL WELFARE.
It is the intent of the city council that this chapter is a general statement of Santa Cruz city policy that shall not form the basis of a private right of action.
(Ord. 2019-22 § 1 (part), 2019).