Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program: A model for working regionally

The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP) at California State University, Fresno works across eight counties in California's San Joaquin Valley to create environments that support healthy eating and active living. Established in 2005, by a campus-community partnership, known as the Central California Public Health Partnership, CCROPP'S model is a partnership approach between public health departments, local community agencies, grassroots community members, and youth in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. The California Endowment and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation fund CCROPP. Due to the Valley's rural nature, pervasive poverty, and misdistribution of resources, ubiquitous social injustice issues exist in healthy food access and physical activity opportunities. Challenged with addressing obesity independently, local public health departments have been working contiguously across counties, which has resulted in a shared purpose, a uniform voice and strategic implementation. This model has proven to be a great benefit to local partners, but moreover a huge success in affecting change in a region beset with challenges. CCROPP's regional office serves as the hub of the partnership, offering support through trainings, technical assistance, communications, marketing, program development, research, and organizing advocacy efforts. CCROPP has emerged as a leader in California's obesity prevention efforts, it is a model that is replicable and offers many lessons for other groups hoping to work regionally to affect change. In this session, participants will learn the basics of working regionally, as well how CCROPP has leveraged resources to create healthy communities and ensured a long-term legacy.