Champions for Change – Healthy Communities Initiative

Project Description

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program launched the Champions for Change - Healthy Communities Initiative to help reduce the prevalence of obesity among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) eligible populations by providing nutrition education, physical activity promotion, and working to create healthier environments for individuals and families where they live, learn, work, play, pray, and shop. Children's Hospital, Los Angeles is providing these services within the underserved communities of Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice, Mar Vista, Del Rey and Palms, focusing on families with young children.

Key efforts under the three-year initiative include teaching fundamental skills such as healthy cooking, reading food labels, shopping on a budget, growing fruits and vegetables, and being physically active in low-cost and fun ways. In addition, champions in underserved communities throughout the County will be identified to help improve access to healthier foods and increase opportunities to physical activity in a variety of settings, including early childcare centers, schools, faith-based organizations, corner stores, parks, worksites, and cities.

Important Things to Know

Childhood Obesity in America:

8.4 % of 2 to 5 year olds are obese.
17.7% of 6 to 11 year olds are obese.
20.5% of 12 to 19 year olds are obese.

Childhood Obesity in LA County:

21% of 3 year olds and 22.4% of 4 year olds in PHFE WIC low income families are obese.
More than 20% of kids in 5th, 7th and 9th grades in LA county are obese.
Obesity rates continue to rise among adults, school-age children and kids as young as 3 to 4 years of age.

For support in obtaining healthy foods visit PHFE WIC or CalFresh.

For tasty recipes on a budget visit EatFresh.org.

Additional Information

Larry Yin, MD, MSPH, Co-Project Lead
Alexis Deavenport-Saman, DrPH, Co-Project Lead
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Project Coordinator II
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Project Coordinator I
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Project Coordinator I

Funding: Contract

Project Duration: 2017 - 2020

Collaborator: USDA