Daniel P. Perales, DrPh MPH¹, F. Buck, MSW², Denise Perales, MHROD³, and Roseann Stephenson, MPA². (1) Department of Health Science, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0052, 408-924-4695, dperales@sjsu.edu, (2) Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 997413, 1616 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, (3) Perales & Associates Evaluation Services, 4415 Water Oak Court, Concord, CA 94521

The California Department of Health Services Nutrition Network utilizes USDA funds to support 130 projects that provide nutrition education, promote physical activity, and address food insecurity. The Network also funds 13 food security projects that focus on promoting participation in the food stamps program; promoting healthy eating and physical activity; assisting communities to become more self-sufficient and food secure; and facilitating food systems change. This presentation will describe lessons learned from 4-year case studies of two food security projects: the rural Trinity County Frontier Nutrition Project (FNP), located in a Northern California region with high lumber industry-related unemployment rates and the Occidental College, Center for Food and Justice (CFJ), L.A. Fresh Food Access and Nutrition Education Project in Los Angeles. The presentation will describe the major challenges and successes of each project, including the FNP's success in developing individual, community, and children's gardens; improving access to surplus foods; developing a food and nutrition resources directory; and collaborating with local agencies to provide nutrition education. The CFJ project, through its Healthy School Food Coalition (HSFC), addressed the logistical and political challenges of working with the LAUSD school board, school administrators, and the district Food Services Division, and successfully implemented farmers market salad bars in 46 schools reaching 33,000 students, implemented a healthy snack and nutrition education program in eight After-School Programs, and was successful in getting the LAUSD to ban sodas in all district schools. The implications for health education practice in the emerging field of food security will be described.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the California Department of Health Services' Nutrition Network organizational structure and how it both monitors and provides assistance to funded food security projects.
• Describe the differences in food security issues in rural as compared to and urban settings.
• List the lessons learned from food security interventions in urban and rural settings.
• Understand the role that health educators can play in the field of food security.

Keywords: Food Security, Nutrition

Related Web page: www.dhs.ca.gov/cpns/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Evaluation consultant