Community Programs
The Healthy Eating, Active Communities Initiative in Western Chula Vista
Improving the food and physical activity environments for school-age children is the objective of The California Endowment’s Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) initiative that launched March 17, 2005. The four-year, $26 million initiative is currently funding six community collaboratives throughout California to create momentum for widespread changes in the policies and practices that contribute to the rising rates of childhood obesity. The South Bay Partnership, Sweetwater Union High School District, Chula Vista Elementary School District, and County Health and Human Services Agency - South Region were jointly selected to receive funding for four years to work collaboratively to impact the problem of childhood obesity in the area of western Chula Vista. The project area (see map) is defined by the attendance area of two high schools and encompasses more than a dozen feeder schools.
Click here to visit The California Endowment's Healthy Eating, Active Communities web site and read more about this effort throughout the state.
Click here to view the new particpating restaraunts in Chula Vista for Healthy Kids Choice, Inc
Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments Through Work in 5 Sectors
The Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) initiative is designed to slow or reverse the increase in obesity and diabetes among children through environmental prevention. The initiative explicitly identifies 5 sectors within which changes in policies and practices can have a significant impact on the risk factors for obesity and diabetes. The five sectors are: Schools, After school, Neighborhoods, Healthcare, and Marketing and Advertising.
Click here to view a document that summarizes anticipated outcomes in each of the five sectors.
HEALTH CARE
NEIGHBORHOOD
SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL SECTORS
MARKETING AND ADVERTISING:
Meetings
Meetings for the HEAC initiative are currently revolving around the the development of our project work plan, which will be finalized near the end of the summer. Groups are meeting to plan for policy work in the following sectors: Schools, After School, Neighborhood, and Health Care.
For more information about meeting times, locations, and topics, please call the individuals listed below:
Schools: Carol Shaw (619) 585-6024
After School: Sandra Bishop (619)691-5736
Neighborhood: Margarita Holguin (619) 409-9412 / Tanya Rovira-Osterwalder (619) 691-8801
Health Care: Sharney McLaughlin (619) 409-3252
In the News
- KPBS Radio story: On Thursday, May 18, KPBS news health reporter Kenny Goldberg reported on Chula Vista's community response to the childhood obesity epidemic. The opening of Harborside Park is described as part of that overall effort by Mayor Padilla and HHSA Deputy Director Rene Santiago. Read and/or listen to the story by clicking here
- Union-Tribune article from 2/17/06 - Battling the childhood obesity epidemic (written by Dr. Phil Nader, HEAC supporter)
HEAC Initiative Evaluation
The evaluation team for the HEAC initiative is led by Samuels and Associates. In May 2005, representatives of Samuels and Associates collected baseline data on school, after school, and neighborhood environments. The assessment tools that were used are linked from the pages for the individual sectors.
Obesity Prevention Internet Links