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Network for a Healthy California - Local Incentive Awardee (LIA)

Creating healthier communities by educating food stamp eligible community members and engaging them to advocate for environmental changes that support healthy eating and physical activity.

Key Activities:
Nutrition Classes

Develop and implement basic nutrition classes and interactive activities focused on nutrition and physical activity for:

• Santa Clara County Public Health Department – Nutrition & Wellness WIC Program
• Elementary and middle school students & teens
• Parents, educators, & childcare providers

Train-the-Trainer Opportunities:

Provide train-the-trainer education in nutrition, breastfeeding, and physical activity promotion to:

• Healthcare providers
• Childcare providers
• Community health educators – “Promatoras”
• School district staff & community-based organization staff

Community Involvement:

• Broad-based social marketing strategies
• Community intervention using collaborative partnerships
• Participate in community activities that promote fruit & vegetable consumption, physical activity, and food assistance programs
  • Health fairs & community events
  • Nutrition and physical activity events in schools
  • Farmers’ Markets
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County food provider sites
• Provide technical assistance to community members advocating for environmental change
• Media targeting underserved and ethnically-diverse residents
• Develop and foster coalitions and networks

Neighborhood Assessments:

Network for a Healthy California-LIA, in partnership with the Steps to a Healthier Santa Clara County Program and other community partners, conducted a review of nutrition & physical activity resources in three Santa Clara County neighborhoods:

• Washington (San Jose)
• University (San Jose) 
• East Gilroy (Gilroy)
• Edenvale/Great Oaks (San Jose) - Coming Soon

Results of these assessments were combined with data from other resources to give a snapshot of the health status of residents and the built environment within these neighborhoods.

Information gathered on land use and the physical nature of the neighborhood provides a realistic picture of areas in need of improvement and offers residents, merchants, and policymakers and the neighborhood groups a focal point as they work to build a healthier community.

Partners:

American Cancer Society – Bay Area Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition (BANPAC) – Bay Area Regional Nutrition Network (BARNN) – Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) – Children’s Health & Fitness Coalition of Santa Clara County – Healthy Silicon Valley – Interagency Nutrition Council – Power Play – San José Job Corps – San José State University – Santa Clara County Office of Education – Second Harvest Food Bank – University of California, Cooperative Extension – WIC Program – and YMCA of Santa Clara Valley

Target Audience:

Food Stamp-eligible families in Santa Clara County

Related Links:

Education & Advocacy

• California Center for Public Health Advocacy
• The California Endowment
• California Food Policy Advocates
• California Nutrition Council
• California WIC Association
• Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Prevention Institute
• Public Health Institute
  Public Health Law & Policy
• Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments
• California Department of Health Services, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section
• California Children’s 5 a Day—Power Play! Campaign
• California 5 a Day—For Better Health! Campaign
• California Nutrition Network

Farmers’ Markets (Santa Clara County-Certified)

Food Banks and Food Security

• California Food Policy Advocates
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Food Stamps

• California Food Policy Advocates, Food Stamps Work
• United States Department of Agriculture, Food Stamp Program (contains Food Stamp Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool)

Physical Activity

• California Department of Education, Physical Education
• Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department
• Santa Clara County Public Parks and Recreation Areas

 

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