Areas of Focus / Community Resiliency / United for Health

United for Health

CHC formed the United for Health collaborative, which implemented a comprehensive series of evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, and systems changes with the goal of reducing chronic diseases across five historically underserved and low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, Central LA, Boyle Heights, Pacoima, and Wilmington). This initiative was funded under the Center for Disease Control – Community Transformation Grant. Focusing on racial and ethnic health disparities, inequitable access to preventive and health promoting resources, and deficient living conditions, the UFH accomplished much more together than it would have as 24 separate organizations. Examples of some of the successes include:

Healthy Eating

a total of 9 community gardens were established; 5 farmers’ markets adopted and implemented CalFresh (Electronic Benefits Transfer) serving 4,068 low income residents; 3 pop-up markets launched five months ahead of schedule and distributed a total of 13.5 tons of fresh, organic produce at affordable prices to low income individuals and families; 5 agreements with existing local corner storeowners were secured and five corner stores were transformed to provide fresh produce.

Active Living

five childcare centers’ staff were trained to provide physical activities for children 0 to 5; 79 community members were trained and certified through the Health Advocates
Program and are providing physical activities for adults. Three new parks opened and one lease agreement was approved to open a fourth park in 2015. The Open Space Visioning Plans were published for the five-targeted geographic areas to help local government and nonprofits understand the needs of their communities.

Preventive Clinical Services

The LA County Board of Supervisors and City Council proclaimed August 2014 as “Know Your Digits” Month, a successful UFH
initiative. CHC and 45 partners hosted over 89 events with over 40 events providing free blood pressure screenings. Overall, 7,116 consumers were reached of which 1,077 received a free blood pressure screening. Four clinics continue to implement the patient recall system and are utilizing text messages and automated phone calls to remind patients of upcoming appointments. Eight Stanford Licensed sites committed to providing Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs were trained to become facilitators and 4 started workshops before the end of the grant.

Healthy and Safe Physical Environments

Partners have developed an outreach plan and home inspection process that will reach families living in unsafe housing conditions. The Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department expressed interest in amending the current housing inspection process to incorporate UFH recommendations.