Cleveland City Council Health Committee Holds Urban Health Forum

Cleveland (January 15, 2015) Cleveland City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee is holding an all-day retreat on Friday to focus on urban health issues and how they compare from city to city.

The retreat, held at Cuyahoga Community College’s Hospitality Management Center at Public Square, will be attended by more than 80 local health-care experts who will focus on issues such as infant mortality, lead poisoning, AIDS and obesity.

“Eighty percent of premature deaths in Cleveland are due to tobacco, lack of exercise, diet and mental health disorders,” said Councilman Joe Cimperman, chairman of the committee. “The goal of this forum is to determine what City Council can do to improve the lives of every man, woman and child in Cleveland through public health.”

The forum will also be attended by officials of the National League of Cities. League officials will announce that Cleveland has been selected by NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families to participate in a nation-wide study of health disparities.

Cleveland is one of seven cities chosen for what is called a “learning collaborative.” The other cities are Baton Rouge, Kansas City, Lincoln Neb., Oklahoma City, Savanna, and Virginia Beach.

The NLC provides research, backing and on-the-ground work for projects in tens of thousands of cities and towns across the country.

Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone is Second Vice President of the organization. He too will speak at the forum.

“As a member of the National League of Cities, the City of Cleveland has the opportunity to learn about emerging city-level models to better serve our community, interact with leaders from other cities, and share and learn best practices,” said Zone.

For more information call Councilman Cimperman at 216-215-6765.

Who: Cleveland City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee

What: Forum on urban health issues

When: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday, January 16

Where: Cuyahoga Community College Hospitality Management Center at Public Square, 180 Euclid Ave.

                                                ##

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Health & Human Services Committee handles all matters relating to public health, public charities, work relief, city correctional institutions and city charitable organizations, including sanitation, unemployment, air pollution control, lake and river pollution and nuisances. The city's departments of Health and Welfare, Human Resources and Aging report to the Health & Human Services Committee.

Chair: Joe Cimperman; Vice Chair: Mamie Mitchell

Members: Dona Brady, Phyllis Cleveland, Kevin Conwell, Brian Cummins, Jeffrey Johnson