Diabetes Initiative
Community Advocacy: Fresh Ideas on Food and Fitness for Orange County's Kids
Based on the experiences and knowledge acquired during the first phase of the Diabetes Initiative, the second phase of the Diabetes Initiative, "Community Advocacy: Fresh Ideas on Food and Fitness for Orange County Kid's" was seamlessly launched in 2005. The focus of this three-year initiative is to develop and demonstrate sustainable change in the built environment; obtain policy change in schools and cities; create opportunities for physical activity and fitness; and to create environmental change providing communities access to healthy foods. In this phase,Health Funders Partnership of Orange County made a 3 year grant to Community Action Partnership of Orange County. In addition, the Health Funders Partnership is providing technical assistance to the grantees in collaboration with Prevention Institute. The California Endowment, St. Joseph Health System Foundation, The Children & Families Commission, Pacific Life Foundation, Irvine Health Foundation, Orange County United Way, and Kaiser Permanente are major contributors to this initiative. We also have resources for Diabetes Management and Prevention in Orange County.
Community Builders Initiative
This collaborative grant was awarded to: 1) provide additional support for the new Community Builders Initiative in Placentia funded by St. Joseph's Healthcare System and 2) to replicate this model in the Anaheim Independencia community. Collaborative partners include St. Jude Medical Center and the City of Placentia. The project borders 2 of the 5 low income neighborhoods that are part of the Community Builders Initiative.
CAPOC offered Leadership Training to community members to teach them to advocate with City Council Members for the much needed changes in the built environment. The results led to a working relationship with Supervisor Norby's office to add a walking path along Katella Blvd. and reopen the playground at the Center (which had been closed during reconstruction). Additionally, the Community Advocates have created a Fitness Club which begins their day by participation in a physical activity at the Anaheim Independencia Family Resource Center. As a result of being involved with the Fitness Club, families are now coming together to play sports or participate in some type of physical activity. This project has made a positive influence on the community because Community Advocates are recruiting more community members to participate in the Fitness Club. This builds relationships and opens the door to involve them in Community Advocacy projects.
Additionally, the Community Advocates will also begin nutrition classes and will learn how to make healthy Latino recipes for their families. They are very excited to learn more about nutrition and will also be able to participate hands-on, by taking part in food demonstration activities.
Juan Gonzalez, Executive Assistant to Supervisor Chris Norby, First District, was invited to attend a Community Advocacy meeting in June. He voiced his concerns for the community and asked for input. The primary topic was in regards to a warehouse located within the community that houses the buses for Magnolia School District. The residents would like to have the warehouse relocated. The buses are not for neighborhood schools and continue to pollute the environment. This space could be used to expand Anaheim Independencia Family Resource Center by being converted to a recreation area. Community Advocates have voiced that they are prepared to take the proper steps to move forward with this concern and are constructing an action plan. A survey will be distributed to neighborhood residents and a Community Forum will be scheduled to discuss this issue. Executive Assistant, Juan Gonzalez, was interested in assisting and will continue to communicate with Community Advocates regarding their concerns. The meeting was encouraging and made community members feel more empowered. It also gave them an understanding of how the voice of the community can be heard.
The CBI project has also had a positive impact in the lives of the individuals that traveled to Sacramento for Hunger Action Day in the month of May. Three Parent Representatives from the Rio Vista community, one volunteer from the Anaheim Independencia Center and two CAPOC staff traveled to the state capital and met with local assembly members, senators and aids/representatives. Parent Representatives and the volunteer discussed and advocated for bills relating to food, nutrition, and physical activity. Prior to the grant, no participants had ever met with elected officials or visited the state capital. The trip to Sacramento indeed empowered these residents; in fact, at the beginning of the day, one participant was hesitant about the idea of speaking to assembly members and senators. As the day went by, this participant felt empowered and was always the first one to speak in the group. Other participants also commented how enlightening this trip was for them and that they did not realize that they could make a difference.
Parent Representatives from the Topaz community have been actively involved in re-organizing/re-grouping the school's PTA. They have met with the school principal to discuss concerns. They have also enlisted help from regional PTA staff. Parent Representatives have drafted an action plan to meet their goal of having a PTA by the next school year.
