A-Z Index

CalFresh Healthy Living

Introduction to Public Health

Background

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and a powerful tool to improve nutrition among low-income people. In California, SNAP is known as CalFresh Food (formerly CalFresh). This program issues monthly electronic benefits to low-income populations who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy food on the table. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), known in California as the CalFresh Healthy Living Program is a federal/State partnership that provides nutrition education for individuals who are enrolled in or eligible to enroll in SNAP.

The CalFresh Healthy Living Program supports healthy, active and nourished lifestyles by teaching Californians about good nutrition and how to stretch their food dollars, while also building partnerships in communities to make the healthy choice, the easy choice. The CalFresh Healthy Living Program improves the nutritional health of low-income Californians by providing access to nutrition education, physical activity education, and leadership toward healthy community initiatives.

Our CalFresh Healthy Living Funded Partners

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is partnering with 18 organizations to improve access to healthy food and prevent diet-related chronic diseases among Los Angeles County’s low-income families. View the full list of CalFresh Healthy Living partners. 

Some of the program's success stories can be viewed here.

Below is a list of CalFresh Healthy Living funded partners by sector and the activities and strategies they are implementing:

  • Early Childhood Education

    ECE Photo CATCH Observation

    Funded Partners

    • The Children’s Collective, Inc.

    Activities and Strategies

    • Conduct nutrition education and physical activity classes
    • Increase access to healthy food
    • Promote CalFresh Food
    • Implement Smarter Mealtimes 
    • Improve physical activity
  • K-12 Schools and Afterschool Programs

    Afterschool Program

    Funded Partners

    • Glendale Unified School District
    • Lawndale Elementary School District
    • Pasadena Unified school District

    Activities and Strategies

    • Conduct nutrition education and physical activity classes
    • Increase access to healthy food
    • Promote CalFresh Food
    • Promote water consumption
    • Implement Smarter Lunchroom Movement 
    • Implement share tables  
    • Improve physical activity
  • Healthcare Clinics

    healthcare clinics

    Funded Partners

    • Venice Family Clinic
    • Northeast Valley Health Corporation
    • Asian Pacific Healthcare Venture

    Activities and Strategies

    • Conduct nutrition education and physical activity classes
    • Increase access to healthy food
    • Promote CalFresh Food
    • Implement food insecurity screening and referrals
  • Food Banks/Pantries

    Food Bank Choice Food Distribution Whittier SDA Church

    Funded Partners

    • Antelope Valley Partners for Health
    • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

    Activities and Strategies

  • Produce Distribution

    Produce Distribution Cerritos Farmers Market

    Funded Partners

    • Social Justice Learning Institute
    • Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement – Special Service for Groups, Inc.
    • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
    • Seeds of Hope, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

    Activities and Strategies

    • Deliver free produce to early childhood education centers, schools, and healthcare clinics
    • Distribute produce in parks and other community-based settings
  • Nutrition Education and Physical Activity

    nutrition education and physical activity

    Funded Partners

    • Active San Gabriel Valley
    • Adventist Health Glendale Foundation
    • California State University – Northridge
    • National Health Foundation
    • Food Access LA
    • The Whole Child

    Activities and Strategies

    • Conduct nutrition education and physical activity classes at schools, parks, and community-based settings

Promotores Training Program

Promotores Training Program

The Promotores Training Program is a training series developed to train promotores, community health workers and health educators to become a trusted community resource for nutrition information, food assistance programs, and food resources.

For more information on the program, please click here.