These are general resources that relate to both nutrition and physical activity or to the relationship between the built environment and health in general. Included are presentation slides from various sources as well as a template PowerPoint presentation to use to develop your own PowerPoint presentation promoting environment and system change activities. Although many of the links in each focus area include grant resources, there is a separate funding opportunities section under General Resources for frequent grant postings to help start and sustain your proposed projects.
A Guide to Integrating Healthy Eating and Active Living into Colorado’s Rural and Small Town Communities (PDF, 2.8MB)
A comprehensive approach to advancing policy, environmental, and life style changes in rural Colorado that can be applicable to other rural settings as well. Includes various community resources, partners and community-level action strategies developed by Livewell Colorado.
Active Living by Design
Aims to increase physical activity and healthy eating through community design. This website allows you to explore initiatives and the work of communities across the country.
Active Living and Social Equity: Creating Healthy Communities for All Residents – a Guide for Local Governments (PDF)
Provides a toolbox of local government strategies for promoting active living equitably and success stories from around the country. Developed by International City/County Management Association
Built Environment and Health Handbook (PDF, 4.7MB)
Provides tools and resources for land use planning, community design, the built environment and health such as community food and walkability assessments in both English and Spanish. Developed by Tri-County Health Department, Colorado.
California Project LEAN
Project LEAN, or Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition, is a joint California Department of Public Health and Public Health Institute program that works to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases by partnering with communities and schools. Their website includes toolkits, lesson plans, fact sheets, and brochures along with training, technical assistance, and expert consultation on policy and environmental change strategies.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Designing and Building Healthy Places
CDC’s Healthy Community Design Initiative’s website gives an overview of health and the built environment, along with easy-to-read fact sheets and resources.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Physical Activity and Built Environment Resources
Includes numerous guides, roadmaps, tools and webinars to improving our nutrition and physical activity environment.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities (PDF, 3.89 MB)
This toolkit focuses on how to create systems and environmental changes related to nutrition and physical activity that will reduce obesity disparities and achieve health equity. It is developed at a state level for health departments and practitioners who work with and through communities to help plan, implement, and evaluate state obesity and health equity programs.
CityMatch Women’s Health Prevention Brief: The Built Environment (PDF)
Highlights MCAH roles and opportunities to improve health in women before and between pregnancies through the built environment.
County Health Rankings and Roadmap
An interactive County Health Rankings and Roadmap tool to assess how healthy people are in each county, considering factors such as the physical environment.
Design for Health
A collaborative project that bridges community design research and the everyday realities of local governments. It has a rich resource library that includes original work developed by the project as well as links to other resources, plan case studies, and funding resources, covering topics such as safety, food access, and accessibility.
Environmental and societal factors affect food choice and physical activity: rationale, influences, and leverage points (PDF, 1.5MB)
An article that includes a database of hypothesized environmental influences on physical activity and nutrition, with changability and impact ratings, leverage points, setting and influence for each influence.
Cite: Booth SL, Sallis JF, Ritenbaugh C, Hill JO, Birch LL, Frank LD, Glanz K, Himmelgreen DA, Mudd M, Popkin BM, Rickard KA, St Jeor S, and Hays NP. Environmental and societal factors affect food choice and physical activity: rationale, influences, and leverage points. Nutrition reviews. 2001;59:S21-39; discussion S57-65.
Health Impact Assessment
This project aims at advancing smarter policies for healthier communities by offering practical recommendations to minimize risks and improve health. Their website has numerous resources, including presentation and webinars, literature and data sources, other toolkits and guides as well as funding opportunities.
Completed Health Impact Assessments
Browse through sample health impact assessments to see what others are doing to promote health in the environment.
San Francisco’s Healthy Development Tool
A comprehensive set of evaluation and planning tools that bring health considerations into urban development. It explicitly connects public health to urban development planning in efforts to achieve a higher quality social and physical environment that advances health.
Health in All Policies (HiAP)
A multi-agency work group for California agencies and departments to collaborate on supporting healthier policies to address the complex relationship between sustainability and health.
Leadership for Healthy Communities: Action Strategies Toolkit (PDF)
A guide created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for local and state leaders working to create healthy communities and prevent childhood obesity. This contains strategies on activity living, the built environment, and healthy eating.
Licensing and Zoning: Tools for Public Health
A useful guide on how regulating local businesses and land use through licensing and zoning can promote public health by addressing nutrition and bike parking. There are also additional resources included, such as Zoning Talking Points
Local Government Commission
Provides technical assistance, networking, and inspiration to elected officials and community leaders working to create healthy and walkable communities. Look under Resources.
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
This is a free, online collection of local public health tools that include presentations, fact sheets, and templates. You can browse for the tools or use the search option to type in keywords. Just create a free user name to access the tools.
Network for a Healthy California
A collaboration of local, state, and national partners that promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption and daily physical activity to improve the health status of low-income Californians.
PolicyLink’s Equitable Development Toolkit
Various toolkits, including promotion of ideas and strategies for improving corner stores, starting and sustaining farmer’s markets, and improving access to healthy foods.
Putting Business to Work for Health: Incentive Policies for the Private Sector
A ChangeLab guide that shows how local government incentives can motivate worksites to make choices that promote public health.
Prevention Institute: Strategic Alliance
A hub for policies and practices aimed at improving food and physical activity environments in California, including the role of corporate and government policies. Includes various policy links from the local to federal level as well as tools to improve the built environment.
Strategies for Enhancing the Built Environment to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living (PDF, 2MB)
Supported by the Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership and prepared by the Prevention Institute, this brief outlines a range of organizational practices and community factors being considered to improve the built environment in terms of nutrition and physical activity.
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Community Transformation Grants
This Centers for Disease Control (CDC) program supports community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases by promoting healthy lifestyles. Applicants must demonstrate how they can improve their communities by increasing the availability of healthy food options and improving access to safe places for physical activity, among others.
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefits Division
Invests in environmental change initiatives focused on healthy eating and physical activity at both local and regional levels. Click here for Northern California applications and guidelines. Click here for Southern California, applicants must first write a Letter of Inquiry to receive an invitation to apply for a grant.
Healthy Food Financing Initiative
This US Department of Health and Human Services program supports projects that increase access to healthy and affordable food in communities that are lacking, especially rural communities. Check funding opportunities for the application checklist and other information.
Innovative Ideas Challenge
The California Endowment’s grant-making program funds innovative ideas to address health issues in underserved communities in California. Review 14 communities listed at the bottom of the webpage to see what others have been doing to build healthy communities.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Technical Assistance Resource Center
SRTS funding resources include transportation, safety and injury prevention, obesity prevention and physical activity promotion, education, and environmental protection.
The Kresge Foundation
A private, national foundation that funds various community projects to improve the quality of life through seven programs. Look under Healthy Environments to fill out a grant application.
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Built Environment 101 PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 2.7MB)
Created by Active Living by Design, these slides give an in-depth overview of the built environment and systems change.
We Are What We Eat and Breath, and Build: Preventing Chronic Diseases and Protecting the Environment by Building Healthy Communities (PDF, 13.8MB)
Dr. Richard Jackson’s lecture from the Cal Environmental Protection Agency’s monthly speaker presentation on how environmental strategies can improve a community’s health. Provides quantitative data, policy solutions, and relevant headlines and articles.
Built Environment PowerPoint Presentation Template (PPT, 7.295 MB)
Refer to this template when preparing a presentation on systems and environmental change. You can customize the existing slides with data and images from your own local health jurisdictions.
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The nutrition environment is a significant contributor to the epidemic of childhood and adult obesity in the United States. This can include convenient access to high fat and low nutrient foods as well as a lack of access to and the high cost of nutritious foods, such as fruits and vegetables. We can address both community and consumer nutrition environments through understanding the food landscape in our counties or local health jurisdictions and employing certain strategies for change.
California Statewide Nutrition Surveys
Data from three statewide surveys of diet and physical activity, including research briefs from the surveys, data tables, and fact sheets.
Communities of Excellence (CX3)
A project of the Network for a Healthy CA in partnership with local health departments. Their website provides tools for collecting and measuring food quality, availability and affordability in low-income communities.
Community Design for Healthy Eating: How land use and transportation solutions can help (PDF)
A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation paper that explores how the built environment affects food access. It also provides eight specific recommendations to improve healthy eating and success stories for each of them.
Healthy Eating Research
A research website for policy and environmental factors that influence nutrition. The page includes strategies for reversing the childhood obesity epidemic and grant funding.
California Center for Public Health Advocacy’s General Policy Recommendations (PDF)
Addresses healthy local food environment policies.
Retail Food Environment Index (PDF)
This index divides the total number of fast-food outlets and convenience stores by the total number of supermakets and produce vendors and provides a “score” for counties and cities. Developed by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
Zoning for Healthy Food Access Varies by Community Income (PDF, 1.4MB)
Bridging the Gap's research examines the extent to which local zoning ordinances allow food outlets within a community and whether the zoning provisions vary based on community income.
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Farm to School
National Farm to School Network
The National Farm to School Network aims to enable every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers.
Farm to School PowerPoint (PDF)
A quick and easy presentation that covers the program and models, as well as policies and resources.
Center for Ecoliteracy: Change School Food
A planning framework to “Rethinking School Lunch” for improving school food and teaching nutrition.
Community Food Security Coalition
A coalition of organizations that work to build food security. Here, you can learn about local, state and federal policies, review case studies and possible funding sources, and obtain training and technical assistance for community food projects.
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Gardens
Community Gardens and Public Health PowerPoint (PDF)
A presentation template to explain why public health should be involved with gardens and what role the government and policy plays. Developed by NPLan Policy and Program Associates.
A Legal Toolkit for Community Gardens
Includes sample lease agreement, rules and discussion checklists for starting a community garden. Developed by ChangeLab Solutions.
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How to Start a Farmers' Market (PDF)
A PowerPoint presentation created by the US Department of Agriculture with easy-to-follow steps on establishing a farmers' market
How to Make Healthy Changes in Your Neighborhood (PDF)
A user-friendly fact sheet to help consumers get more fruits and vegetables in their neighborhoods. Developed by Public Health Law and Policy.
ChangeLab’s Publications on Farmers' Markets
Great fact sheets on certified farmers' markets, establishing land use protections, and creating permit programs for farmers' markets.
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"The Alameda County Public Health Department’s Maternal, Paternal, Child and Adolescent Health Section partnered with the Building Blocks Collaborative and applied for a Kresge Foundation Grant. They succeeded and received a three-year, $750,000 grant to work to improve the availability of fruits and vegetables in local corner stores in two low-income areas of Alameda County."
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- Community nutrition environment
- Includes type and location of food outlets, such as stores and restaurants, as well as accessibility, including hours of operation, drive-through, etc.
- Consumer nutrition environment
- Includes available healthy options as well as price, promotion, placement, and nutrition information.
Source: Healthy nutrition environments: Concepts and measures (PDF)
Cite: Glanz K, Sallis JF, Saelens BE, and Frank LD. Healthy nutrition environments: concepts and measures. American journal of health promotion : AJHP. 2005;19:330-333, ii.
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Communities that are designed to promote physical activity improve the health of our population. Safe and accessible recreational facilities and streets and programs that encourage walking, biking, or playing allow families to engage in daily physical activity.
Active Living Research
A wide range of tools and resources, including research briefs, summary slides, tools and measures to help public health professionals create more activity-friendly environments. Check out the Rural Active Living Assessment Tools.
California Active Communities
Works to create opportunities for safe, everyday physical activity through environmental and policy change strategies and strategic alliances.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Vital Signs
This webpage provides a quick and easy-to-read overview on physical activity through walking. Included are talking points, data, and suggestions for individuals, employers, and state/local governments to increase walking.
Local Public Health and the Built Environment (LPHBE) Network
These projects support and promote community design solutions to increase physical activity and decrease the risk for chronic disease such as obesity and diabetes. This site includes links to resources, partners, and case studies for county-level implementation.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Quick Start Resources on Environmental Strategies to Promote Physical Activity (PDF)
Provides key references, tools, and components for the planning, implementation, evaluation and maintenance of environmental interventions to promote physical activity.
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Pedestrian Safety and Walkability
ChangeLab Pedestrian Friendly Code Directory
A comprehensive list of resources to learn how zoning and subdivision codes can create safe, comfortable, and convenient physical environments for pedestrians, transit users, and bicyclists.
ChangeLab Complete Streets Talking Points
Fact sheet that provides talking points to use when promoting healthier street design.
Healthy Transportation Network
Works with communities to promote safe bicycle and pedestrian behaviors, create walkable and bicycle-friendly environments, and foster more walking and biking for routine transportation. This website includes funding resources and project assistance. A project of California Active Communities.
National Center for Bicycling and Walking Publications
Includes guides for public health practitioners and local governments to create more walkable and bikeable communities.
Transportation and Health Fact Sheet (PDF)
Fact sheet about how walking and biking can improve health. Developed by the US Department of Transportation.
Walkability Checklist (PDF)
A tool to help evaluate your community’s walkability and provides solutions for improvement. Developed by Walkable America.
Walk Friendly Communities
Applications for designating your community as Walk Friendly.
Walk or Bike to School Day
Schools and communities can use this website as the first step to encourage their students to walk or bike to school and change the community culture. This site includes planning and outreach tools, as well as information specifically geared toward parents, the media, and members of participating schools or states.
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Joint Use Agreements
Joint Use
Provides organizations the opportunity to share resources through joint use agreements to keep costs down and communities healthy by increasing access to physical activity environments for people to be more physically active. This is an ideal project for rural communities with limited resources.
ChangeLab Solutions Joint Use publications
User-friendly fact sheets on joint use agreements, including state rules, checklists for developing an agreement, and other resources to make it easier for communities to access local school facilities like gyms, fields, basketball courts and playgrounds.
Joint Use of School Facilities
Information on joint use grants led by CA Project LEAN and CA Active Communities, including webinars and a fact sheet.
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Safe Routes to Schools
California Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Well-established and sustained program to make bicycling and walking to school easier and more appealing to encourage healthy and active lifestyles from an early age. Assists local communities create SRTS programs by providing trainings, technical assistance, and resources.
- National Center for SRTS
Includes various funding opportunities, marketing resources, and data collection forms for SRTS.
- STRS National Partnership
Includes a network of over 500 agencies that work with SRTS, along with educational and programmatic resources.
Original research on why Safe Routes benefits the entire community
Results published by the CDC suggest that SRTS projects in urban areas can increase physical activity by improving the walking and bicycling environment for target users, adults and children.
Safe Routes to School Improves the Built Environment (PDF, 1.3MB)
Provides a summary SRTS and case studies across the nation. Prepared for the CDC.
ChangeLab Safe Routes to School Talking Points
This factsheet provides talking points and information to help create SRTS, available in both English and Spanish.
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“Along with the Safe Communities Coalition of Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto, Stanislaus County’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Department participated in applying for two Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grants. Their efforts paid off and now, $785,910 funding will allow for new and improved curbs, gutters and sidewalks along with flashing beacons, a lighted crosswalk, and better rainwater drainage. More project and contact information is available on the Stanislaus County Website."
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Breastfeeding is beneficial to babies, moms, and society as a whole. Supporting a built environment that promotes breastfeeding through lactation accommodation, Baby Friendly initiatives, and recognition is a way to ensure the well-being of our maternal and infant population and to reduce the risk of obesity.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Resources
Includes a training toolkit for hospitals and providers and information for moms, employers and health professionals, plus brochures, training presentations, publications and other websites.
California Department of Public Health’s Breastfeeding Data
Provides various links to breastfeeding data and statistics, as well as other resources such as reports, briefs, presentation slides, and breastfeeding report cards.
California Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Association Breastfeeding Policy
A comprehensive list of resources addressing worksite lactation, childcare, hospital care, state and federal data and organizations, and prenatal and postpartum support compiled with the California Breastfeeding Coalition
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Baby Friendly USA
The website for the accrediting body for our nation’s baby-friendly hospital initiative which includes step by step instructions, forms, and general information.
Model Hospital Policy Recommendations Toolkit
Developed by the California Department of Public Health's Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division, this toolkit includes resources created by hospitals and other agencies to promote breastfeeding support in hospitals.
Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in California Hospitals: A Workshop for Hospital Administrators and Key Decision Makers
Developed by the CDPH in response to California Health and Safety Code section 1257.9 (SB22) this workshop includes trainings toolkits with presentations, guides, curriculum, and data.
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Work Environments
The Business Case for Breastfeeding
The Business Case for Breastfeeding is a well-researched program distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services. It includes booklets and kits for supporting breastfeeding friendly worksites.
Breastfeeding Works Resources
The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles has developed toolkits and resources for employees and employers to implement policies and programs to support lactation in the workplace.
Investing in Workplace Breastfeeding Programs and Policies: An Employer's Toolkit (PDF)
The National Business Group on Health's toolkit covers the essential information employers need to understand the components of breastfeeding programs, get started and measure success. Valuable resources include breastfeeding program options, employer case studies and materials for employees. Employers can create tailored workplace breastfeeding programs and policies.
Breastfeeding and Healthy Living: Going Back to Work or School
The CDPH webpage contains resources for parents, employers, CDPH employees, child care workers, and community leaders.
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Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs; 3rd Edition
These standards include the best evidence for feeding and use of breastmilk in childcare settings.
Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers (PDF)
A resource kit to assist childcare providers to promote and support breastfeeding women. Developed by the Wisconsin Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
WIC Nutrition – How to Support a Breastfeeding Mother: A Guide for the Childcare Center
Useful module for supporting breastfeeding mothers in childcare centers. Includes handouts, evaluation forms, and sample PowerPoint presentations and other materials for supporting breastfeeding in childcare environments. Developed by Texas Department of State Health Services.
Childcare Toolkit to Promote Healthy Infant Feeding Practices (PDF)
This toolkit can help child care providers ensure environments that promote healthy weight by focusing on high-impact standards of best practice related to infant feeding.
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California Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Awards
California Breastfeeding Coalition
Nominate employers throughout the state that provide outstanding support for breastfeeding employees. This website also includes useful fact sheets and local breastfeeding awareness walk planning toolkit.
“During fiscal year 2012-13, the City of Pasadena’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health program will work on implementing a citywide workplace breastfeeding policy as well as a department-wide Mother-Baby Friendly workplace. They hope to make Pasadena a Mother-Baby Friendly community by 2015.”
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