California

California, stretching for nearly 900 miles along the Pacific coastline, is the most populous state in the country with more than 38 million residents. One in eight Americans live in California, but too many of those residents, especially children, struggle with being overweight or obese, putting them at risk for developing serious health problems.

Additionally, the significant racial and ethnic disparities that exist in obesity prevalence among U.S. children are pronounced in California’s diverse communities: more than 38 percent of the state’s residents are Hispanic or Latino.*

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, is working with communities throughout the state to make it easier for kids to lead healthier lives.

Our Work in California

In California, we’re making it easier for kids to develop healthy habits.

More than 2,900 schools serving over 1.9 million students across the state have joined Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, creating healthier school environments for children to thrive. Since 2007, 260 California schools have been recognized with National Healthy Schools Awards for their outstanding efforts.

We’ve made it easier for more than 50,000 youth in 454 out-of-school time programs to eat right and move more, focusing on the communities in greatest need in the greater Los Angeles and Sacramento areas. 

Healthier Generation enlists the help of regional and local partners to create healthier schools. These partners, such as HealthCorps and the Orange County Department of Education, receive specialized professional development training from Healthier Generation staff and gain access to Healthier Generation's customized tools, resources and data that empower them to guide schools to improve physical activity and nutrition policies and practices.

As part of our work to reduce calorie consumption along with the country’s three largest soda manufactures, each beverage company is committing to focus its efforts at the community level and specifically in communities where there has been less interest in and/or access to options that help community members reduce their calorie intake. The neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno are among our first communities to see those changes, with a measured decrease in beverage calorie consumption per person in 2016-17.

Watch to learn more about our work with beverage companies in East Los Angeles.

Success Stories

Hear from our school champions from just two the many districts we work with in California: El Monte City School District, enrolled with the Healthy Schools Program since its inception in 2006; and Sanger Unified School District, enrolled since 2009.

Healthier Generation has been there every step of the way. They’ve given us so many resources that have really helped me as a director.

Dr. Robert Lewis

Director of Nutrition Services, El Monte City School District, CA

If you want to make a change, it is best to have support from an organization like Healthier Generation that knows how to walk you through the steps of change.

Jaime Brown

Physical Education Coordinator, Sanger Unified School District, CA

From Our Program Managers

Our Program Managers work in California, supporting our programs in schools and out-of-school time sites. Hear from a few of them about the impact we’re making in California.

In an area rich with fresh produce, the Healthy Schools Program provides support to schools within the Central Valley to help promote healthy eating among not only the students but also the entire school community.

Anita Ruiz

Healthy Schools Program Manager, CA

The Healthy Schools Program has been instrumental in helping Southern California schools increase physical activity and improve nutrition in students and staff members. I’ve witnessed the wellness leads take charge to make sustainable change in their school building.

Ben Melendez

Healthy Schools Program Manager, CA

Healthier Generation builds connections between food and beverage companies and local communities that lead to greater access and availability of healthier products.

Amira Resnick

Healthy Communities / Strategic Partnerships Manager, CA