How We Got To Building Healthy Communties

Place Matters. The most important thing we learned through 14 years of initiatives and the thousands of grants made to communities across the state is this: Our health doesn't begin in a doctor's office. Where we live, work, learn and play has a profound impact on our health. Building Healthy Communities came out of the success of these, and other, place-based grant programs:

Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) shows how communities can reshape the food and physical activity environment to improve children's health. Schools, community groups and public health departments collaborate at HEAC sites in six low-income communities.

The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP) created healthier environments that support healthy eating and active living in the San Joaquin Valley. CCROPP is committed to addressing childhood and adult obesity through place-based policy change.