Affecting structural change at multiple levels through a multi-sector childhood obesity prevention collaborative

Childhood obesity rates have tripled nationally in the past three decades. Chicago's childhood obesity prevalence is nearly twice the national average and in some poor communities of color approaches fifty percent. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) involves hundreds of individuals and organizations working together to confront the childhood obesity epidemic in Chicago. The Consortium involves partners from early childhood education, academic research, medical professions, city and state government, community-based organizations and others with an interest in children's health, nutrition, and physical activity. The Consortium has a number of goals that emphasize structural change at multiple levels to prevent childhood obesity. In its networking function, CLOCC has changed inter-organizational relationships to create new and unique partnerships for childhood obesity prevention practice and research. CLOCC has convened and currently facilitates a task force involving four city departments that has come together to develop a city-wide plan to address childhood obesity. A consensus development process brought 80 organizations together to successfully craft four pieces of legislation that were passed into state law. This paper describes the structures and processes that have been developed to result in each of these 3 levels of structural change and gives specific examples of change at each of these levels. The paper concludes with lessons learned and recommendations for similar efforts to create structural change in communities.