BCHD Celebrates 25 Years of Preventive Health Success, Volunteer Day is August 9 plus Healthy Summer Tips!

July 27, 2023

BCHD Celebrates 25 Years of Preventive Health Success

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) is commemorating “25 Years of Preventive Health Success,” highlighting the numerous successes and accomplishments the health district has achieved on behalf of the residents of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach through its 40+ programs and services.

Established in 1955 as the South Bay Hospital District, the name of the organization was changed to Beach Cities Health District in 1998. One reason for the name change was California Senate Bill 1169, passed in 1994, which changed the designation “hospital district” to “health care district” for the 70+ special districts in the state at the time. The bill also addressed regulations regarding health care trade secrets and the public meeting act, which had made it difficult for public hospitals to compete with privately-held medical facilities

Also in 1998, South Bay Hospital closed, and the mission of the special district changed from treating illnesses and ailments to making residents healthier.

“More than the name changed in 1998, as we switched our focus from curative health to preventive health,” says Tom Bakaly, who joined BCHD as its CEO in 2016. “Focusing on wellness, not sickness, encourages people to make wiser healthcare decisions, and having healthy options available, like free fitness classes, nutrition education for kids, Blue Zones Project approved restaurants and more bike lanes and walkways encourage people to make healthy choices.”

Summer Can Be Both Safe and Fun!

Summer can be immensely enjoyable – the weather is warm and many of us spend time with family and friends, enjoying the longer days outdoors. While these warmer months bring a lot of pleasure, they can also raise some safety concerns. Luckily, by following a few simple tips, we can be on our way to having a safe, yet fun summer!

Enjoy the Summer Sunshine but Stay Protected!
Beat the Heat by Staying Hydrated
Protect Yourself from Insects
Keep a Balanced Diet!

Learn More

Social Hour with BCHD Care Manager Charlotte Barnett

If you have a question regarding community resources, want to learn more about Beach Cities Health District or share and learn ways to keep busy, please join us! These meetings are for all, a place to connect and feel heard.

First & Third Tuesday of the Month, Virtual

(August 1 & 15)

10 – 11 a.m.

Zoom link: https://bchd-org.zoom.us/j/87651635014

2nd Mondays, In person

(August 14)

2 – 3 p.m.

Manhattan Beach Joslyn Center, Sunset Room

1601 N Valley Dr, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Learn More

Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In

Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques. The guided session will be led by a trained Beach Cities Health District instructor.

First Wednesday of the Month

(August 2)

4 – 4:30 p.m.

Virtual Happiness Chats

This is a casual discussion group with light-hearted activities to spark conversation. Share ideas, tips, resources, jokes, quotes – anything that supports our happiness!

Second Tuesday of the Month

(August 8)

12:30 – 1 p.m.

Join Us for Beach Cities Volunteer Day

On Wednesday, August 9, BCHD, local businesses, organizations and residents will come together with one mission to create a healthy beach community. Our goal is to enhance our community’s health through the act of volunteerism. A simple act of volunteering can derive many health benefits such as higher rates of life satisfaction, social connections and longevity.

Support our LiveWell Kids Garden Program by volunteering in our Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach school gardens to help prep them for the upcoming school year. Volunteer activities include harvesting, cleaning up, planting, weeding, assembling composters, spreading bark and more.

For more information on Volunteer Day, please visit bchd.org/volunteerday.

Mental Health First Aid Training

BCHD will host Mental Health First Aid trainings from the National Council for Mental Health. Similar to CPR training, individuals will learn how to provide support to people experiencing mental health challenges. It is an eight-hour training that requires two hours of pre-work and six hours of in-person instruction.

At this training, you'll learn how to assess risk factors, provide initial support and connect individuals to professional resources, when needed.

Friday, August 25 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Friday, October 13 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Beach Cities Health District

514 N. Prospect Ave.

Beach Cities Room, Lower Level

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Summer Free Fitness is Happening Now!

Join BCHD for our Summer Free Fitness series! In partnership with the cities of Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, the public workouts are held each Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mindful Yoga on the Beach, just south of the pier in Manhattan Beach, is July 31, followed by four weeks of Zumba in the Park August 7 – August 28 at Julia Field at Alta Vista Park in Redondo Beach.

For more information on the Beach Cities Free Fitness Series, please visit bchd.org/freefitness.

Hybrid Board of Directors Meetings

BCHD holds public board meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month (except August and December). Residents are encouraged to attend board meetings either via Zoom or in BCHD’s Beach Cities Room - Lower Level, 514 N. Prospect Ave. in Redondo Beach. You may also contact board members directly with questions or comments, or call 310-374-3426, ext. 8213.

Regular Board Meeting

Wednesday, September 27

6:30 p.m.

Visit our Website