Programs

 

 

CalFresh Healthy Living Program 

Napa & Solano

The CalFresh Healthy Living Program, formerly the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program (NEOP) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) funded initiative aimed at combating obesity rates in low income Californians.

CalFresh has the vision of creating healthy systems and environments in which access to fresh fruits and vegetables is not a barrier to healthy eating. This environment will foster healthy lifestyles and empower residents of Napa County to make healthy choices and execute positive behavioral changes

The program is responsible for the following key activities:

  • Delivering nutrition education and physical activity awareness and education
  • Increase healthy behaviors relating to physical activity and consumption of healthy food and beverages.
  • Provide knowledge, skills, and technical assistance to encourage and build supportive systems and environments that influence healthy behavior in individuals and families.
  • Garden and nutrition education using community and school gardens.

 

Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging

The goal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for CalFresh will choose physically active lifestyles and make healthy food choices that are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the US Department of Agriculture's food guidance.

SNAP-Ed interventions will provide nutrition education, and obesity prevention activities based on approved evidence-based health promotion programs. Specific key messaging will include:

  • Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors as part of a healthy lifestyle;
  • Maintain appropriate calorie balance;
  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables, at least half your grains whole grains, and switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and milk product.

ParkRx Program

Innovative Health Solutions (IHS) plays a leadership role in connecting public and private organizations to create healthier and equitable communities for all through our ParkRx program. Parks provide so much more than spaces to be physically active. They are a place of community, a place to meet friends, a place for neighbors to relax, children to play and a place for everyone to enjoy all the added benefits of being in nature.

ParkRx has the vision of establishing a multi-sector coalition engaging health providers, parks and recreational agencies and community stakeholders to increase park visits and physical activity among low-income patients.

The program is responsible for the following key activities:

  • Support the creation of a multi-sector ParkRx collaborative.
  • Assist with identifying key stakeholders to become members of the coalition.
  • Facilitate planning meetings with key stakeholders to identify areas of collaboration, barriers to implementation, and appropriate park programming.
  • Develop a ParkRx collective impact action plan including goals, strategies communications, and outcomes.
  • Develop a ParkRx outreach and communication plan to increase park usage among low-income youth and families.
  • Co-create ParkRx assessment survey to assess interest, barriers and needs of low-income patients, families and/or youth and identify ways to address barriers and/or incentivize recreational opportunities that appeal to low-income patients, youth and families.
  • Co-develop ParkRx promotional materials and resources to increase outreach and awareness of ParkRx opportunities that meet patients’ interest and abilities.
  • Design a site based ParkRx program to support chronic disease prevention and quality improvement medical billing plans. 
  • Assess quality improvement and chronic disease billing activities and identify opportunities to integrate ParkRx programming

HealthRx Program 

With a vision to create healthy and equitable communities by improving health outcomes, HealthRx is a collaborative program that not only empowers patients through access, education and support but also builds the capacity of partnering organizations to ensure sustainable change. By creating equitable access to wholistic health through food, physical activity and nature, this dynamic program recognizes that patient empowerment impacts health and chronic diseases prevention.   To reduce disparities in diabetes, hypertension, depression and obesity the following three key evidence-based concepts are integrated: 

  • FoodRx: inspires curiosity and creativity with access to medically tailored meals, healthy produce and nutrition education. 

  • ParkRx: boosts mental health and social engagement by getting participants out into nature. 

  • Blue Zones Philosophy: builds a community to enact sustainable change for longer healthier lives.  

Healthy Cooking With Kids

The "Healthy Cooking with Kids" Nutrition Education Program has been implemented through the Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) since August 2008. It was established to improve access to fresh healthy foods and increase nutrition education by offering a comprehensive nutrition education program. The cooking and tasting program engages elementary school children in hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods from diverse cultures to improve children’s nutrition.

For more information visit http://www.healthycookingwithkids.net