Full Notification

New program will help create healthier communities in the U.S.
SANTA ANA, CA [October 9, 2014] – Today, Community Action Partnership of Orange County was awarded a grant of approximately $4 million to help the Cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim and Garden Grove create healthier Orange County communities.

The Orange County Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) awards are part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities, and control health care spending. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will administer the grants, which will run for 3 years, subject to availability of funds.

“Through this grant partnership, the City of Santa Ana and neighboring cities of Anaheim and Garden Grove will be able to make lasting change and improve the health and lifestyle of our residents,” said Councilwoman Michele Martinez.

Community Action Partnership of Orange County will oversee this grant through the Orange County Partnerships for Improve Community Health, a coalition including the City of Santa Ana as well as the City of Anaheim, City of Garden Grove, Alliance for Healthier Orange County, Orange County Food Access Coalition, Orange County Department of Education, Orange County Health Care Agency, Special Service for Groups, Inc., University of California, Irvine, and YMCA Anaheim. The work they will be focusing on throughout the next three years includes:

1) Expand farm-to-institution (specifically Farm2School) programs;
2) Support and promote community and home gardens;
3) Increase the amount of physical activity in P.E. programs in schools;
4) Discourage consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (Promote city tap water and water stations); and
5) Complete Streets and Active Transportation (bike safe, walk safe).

“I am thrilled that OCPICH has earned this much needed grant to invest in community health in Orange County,” said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), who wrote a letter of support for the grant. “By promoting and supporting healthier choices for Orange County families, we can cut down the incidence and the costs of debilitating chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

“We’re pleased to play a leadership role for Orange County Partnership for Improved Health and work with our local health department, cities, and community-based organizations in creating healthier environments. As the anti-poverty agency, the link between chronic disease and poverty may be too costly to ignore as obesity-related diseases and projected health care costs of poverty increase,” said Clarence W. Ray, Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Orange County.