Grantee Profiles
Baldwin Park, Los Angeles County
The 57th Assembly District Grassroots Nutrition and Physical Activity Team
"Cities need to prioritize access to healthy food and make sure that our residents have plenty of safe places to exercise. It is imperative that youth take a leadership role in advocating for healthy environments. It's what made a difference in our community."
Councilwoman Marlen Garcia, City of Baldwin Park.
Collaborating grantees:
The California Center for Public Health Advocacy (lead agency), the Baldwin Park Unified School District, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Service Planning Area (SPA) 3&4). Other partners include: the City of Baldwin Park, Kaiser Permanente, Citrus Valley Health Partners, CHOICES Program, the Baldwin Park Resident Advisory Committee (BP-RAC) and Healthy Teens on the Move. The 57th Assembly District Grassroots Nutrition and Physical Activity Team is a community coalition with seven years of experience working to prevent obesity and diabetes. The team, now recognized in Baldwin Park as People on the Move, advocates for changes in local and state policies and shares its experiences with community groups throughout the state.
Community Description
The City of Baldwin Park in Los Angeles County is located in the San Gabriel Valley about 20 miles inland from downtown LA. The city, which began as an agricultural region in the 1860's, is today a suburb of 75,837 residents. The city's population is predominately young (63% of the population is under the age of 35) and Hispanic (79%). Over half of the residents are foreign-born and 70% speak a language other than English at home. Over 32% of the city's children are overweight and 41% are considered physically "unfit".
In the past decade, the city of Baldwin Park has made significant commitments to improving physical environments for children, including the development of a vibrant new teen center that has become a focal point for youth-led programming. The City also passed the Healthy Policy Yields Healthy Minds Resolution (that mirrors state nutrition standards) in 2003, the first city ordinance in California to ensure that only healthy foods and beverages are sold in city-sponsored youth facilities.
The HEAC program is making it possible for community residents to become more engaged in city, community health and school planning processes. Youth and parent groups have educated the city and the school district about the challenges they face when trying to make healthier lifestyle choices in Baldwin Park. Youth and parents have engaged in advocacy trainings, audits of neighborhoods and parks and in the development of policy language in order to improve parks, after-school programs and food options in Baldwin Park schools.
Key Policy Goals and Strategies
- School Sector
- Achieve 100% compliance with California state policies SB 12 and SB 965 for a la carte food and beverages by September 2006.
- Develop and implement a school district Wellness Policy that complies with SB 12 and SB 965 by June 2006.
- Incorporate California Department of Education, Physical Education requirements in the school district's Wellness Policy and implement compliance plan.
- After School Sector
- Incorporate physical activity and nutrition guidelines in the school district's Wellness Policy for after school programs administered by the district.
- Develop guidelines for program directors to enhance physical activity in Kaiser Permanente after school programs, after school programs that use city facilities, and others.
- Expand city's Healthy Policy Yields Healthy Minds policy to city-run and HEAC partner after school programs.
- Neighborhood Sector
- Adopt policy to institutionalize a Healthy Parks Plan in the City of Baldwin Park (and/or incorporate plan into City Parks Master Plan).
- Develop prioritized list of changes in neighborhoods to improve access to physical activity that can be addressed through policy, such as joint use agreements for parks, a park assessment, or updating of zoning codes
- Identify and pursue a city policy to support grocery stores to position fruits and vegetables in-front of the store and/or in store check-out aisles.
- Healthcare Sector
- Determine how to change policy regarding clinical practices; incorporate accepted guidelines for the prevention of pediatric overweight into clinical interactions.
- Investigate and create plan for changing policies in healthcare facilities to promote healthy eating and physical activity.
Accomplishments
- Adoption of a comprehensive school Wellness Policy by the Baldwin Park Unified School District (BPUSD) that calls for compliance with SB12 and SB965 and for compliance with the state mandate of 200-400 minutes of Physical Education every 10 days in grades K-12 .
- Implementation of SB 12 and SB 965 food and beverage standards by Baldwin Park Unified School District one year ahead of the required implementation deadlines.
- Assessment of BPUSD's physical education program in grades K-12 and development of curriculum guide for elementary school teachers to support them in complying with state physical education mandate.
- Incorporation into City's Park Master Plan of community input from youth and adult resident committees.
- Completion of Photovoice project about nutrition and physical activity environments in Baldwin Park by Healthy Teens on the Move and presentation of PhotoVoice at City Council Chambers, county library and to Baldwin Park Unified School District.
- Walk Baldwin Park Day!, led by youth from Healthy Teens on the Move and Baldwin Park Resident Advisory Council, with policymakers and community leaders, to determine high priority walkability issues in the city.
- Park audits by Healthy Teens on the Move conducted of five Baldwin Park city parks, to determine access, use and the condition of equipment at those parks.
- Audits by residents from Baldwin Park's Resident Advisory Council to assess safety and walkability at three parks, and their surrounding street access.
- Promotoras/es selected and trained to provide "platicas" (talks) on barriers to nutrition and physical activity environmental change through community homes, faith organizations and parks. 60 sessions have been held in the community to date addressing 500+ residents of Baldwin Park.
- Healthcare provider champions identified to support environmental change efforts in schools, communities and in after-school programs.
- Task force established to create plan to promote healthy eating and physical activities in healthcare facilities through wellness policies.
- Passage of a moratorium on drive-thrus in the downtown redevelopment area of Baldwin Park to support walkability to downtown businesses and parks.
To Learn More, Contact:
California Center for Public Health Advocacy
Rosa Soto
626-961-1179
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, SPA 3 & 4
Clara Steimberg
213-240-7946
Baldwin Park Unified School District
Christine Dennis
626-856-4443
