CANFit -
HEAC After School Sector Technical Support Provider
Organization Overview
The California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness (CANFit) Program is a statewide, non-profit organization whose mission is to engage communities and build their capacity to improve the nutrition and physical activity status of California's low-income African American, American Indian, Latino, Asian American, and Pacific Islander youth. CANFit serves this mission by providing:
- Training and technical assistance to youth serving organizations, non-profit organizations, funders, government entities, consultants, and others working to improve nutrition and physical activity and prevent obesity in low-income communities of color;
- Developing, evaluating and disseminating effective culturally-appropriate nutrition and physical activity educational materials and social marketing programs;
- Advocating for policies that enhance nutrition and physical activity in after school and community settings; and
- Awarding academic scholarships.
Technical Support for HEAC Grantees
CANFit is available to provide training and technical assistance to HEAC collaboratives and associated organizations to improve the food and physical activity environments for school-age youth in after school programs. CANFit can train and give consultation to organizations on:
- Cultural, linguistic, social and demographic characteristics of youth and how to integrate these qualities into nutrition and physical activity programming;
- Ethnic specific messages likely to motivate behavior change;
- Multiple influences (e.g., mass media, environment, peers, family, critical thinking skills, etc.) affecting adolescent eating and physical activity behaviors in after school environments;
- Strategies for improving eating and physical activity habits and skills of youth, staff, and parents; and
- Policies that support healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in communities and after school organizations.
Specifically, CANFit will conduct the following training and technical assistance services with HEAC collaborative partners to promote changes in after school policies and practices to improve opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity:
- On-site assessments of after school sites (to assess food quality and physical activity practices);
- Assessments of neighborhood resources;
- Healthy snack menu development (with ethnic-specific recipes);
- Training on implementing nutrition education and physical activity lesson plans;
- Nutrition and physical activity standards interpretation and integration;
- Educational materials, handouts, web site, and resources - many provided in Spanish;
- Telephone consultation via CANFit's toll free number; and
- Statewide After School Sector Conference Calls.
Resources and Publications
CANFit Healthy Snack Guide for Your After School Program
Download (  PDF Document)
The After School Landscape in California: Opportunities of the After School Education and Safety Program Act
Download ( PDF Document)
Physical Activity Pyramid for Your After School Program
Download ( PDF Document)
Promoting Health and Preventing Obesity in After School Programs: Critical Issues to Consider
Download ( PDF Document)
Policy Recommendations on Nutrition and Physical Activity in Middle Schools, After School Programs and Communities
Download ( PDF Document)
Spanish-language Recetas para el Exito (Recipes for Success)
Introduction Download ( PDF Document)
Section 1 Download ( PDF Document)
Section 2 Download ( PDF Document)
Section 3 Download ( PDF Document)
Section 4 Download ( PDF Document)
Contact Information
California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness (CANFit)
2140 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 610
Berkeley CA 94704
510-644-1533 or Toll Free 1-800-200-3131
Fax 510-644-1535
Arnell Hinkle, MPH, RD, CHES, Executive Director
(510) 302-3319
ahinkle@canfit.org |
Betty Geishirt Cantrell, MSSW, MBA, Program Administrator
(Primary contact for Northern California)
betty@canfit.org |
Ruth Manzano, Program Administrator
(Primary contact for Southern California)
760-809-7980
ruthymanzano@cs.com |
Website: www.canfit.org
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