National Health Foundation (NHF) was awarded $880,000 from the Los Angeles CountyDepartment of Public Health with funding from the California Department of Public Health and the United States Department of Agriculture. The grant will support the Champions for Change - Healthy Communities Initiative, which aims to reduce the prevalence of obesity among low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education eligible populations by providing nutrition education, physical activity promotion, and working to create healthier environments for low-income individuals and families where they live, learn, work, play, pray, and shop.
Key efforts
under the initiative include teaching fundamental skills such as cooking,
reading food labels, shopping on a budget, growing fruits and vegetables, and
introducing low-cost and fun ways to be physically active. In addition,
champions in communities throughout the County will be identified to help improve
access to healthier foods and increase opportunities to be physical active in a
variety of settings, including early childcare centers, schools, faith-based
organizations, corner stores, parks, worksites, and cities.
“National
Health Foundation is pleased to be a part of this County-wide initiative, as we
are committed to improving underserved communities by taking actions on the
social determinants of health,” explained Kelly Bruno, MSW, President/CEO,
National Health Foundation. “We are working toward making notable changes in
the community by working with students in schools, local corner stores and
community partners to make healthier foods more affordable and available as
well as identify ways to integrate physical activity into the day to improve
the overall health for families in South Central LA.”
According
to the LA County: A Cities andCommunities Health Report, obesity-related chronic illnesses continue to
rank among the top ten leading causes of premature death, including heart
disease, stroke, and diabetes. While the obesity epidemic continues to impact
virtually all population groups, roughly 29% of children and 37% of adults in
South Central LA are obese, which is significantly higher than the rest of Los
Angeles County. LA County black and Latino resident’s fair worse when it comes
to obesity and obesity-related illnesses compared to whites and Asians. Thirty-two
percent of Latinos and thirty one percent of blacks are obese in LA County,
compared to 18% of whites and 8% of Asians. When it comes to South Central Los
Angeles black and Latino residents, who make up 10% and 87% of the population
respectively, the situation is no different.
“Reducing obesity
is a priority of Public Health and a key objective of the Champions for Change - Healthy
Communities Initiative,” said Jeffrey
Gunzenhauser, Interim Health Officer of Los Angeles County. “By investing in our communities and the people
that we serve, we are hopeful that we can make impactful, long-lasting
changes for better health outcomes.”
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