Strategic public-private partnership to leverage investment, and take demonstrated community change models to improve food and physical activity environments to scale

Over the last six years The California Endowment (TCE) has invested significant resources in multiple California communities experiencing inequities, to prevent obesity by changing public policies and creating healthier environments. A key element of TCE's obesity prevention program has been linking its community investments with those of other private foundations as well as public sector programs operated through local health departments throughout the state. The California Convergence brings together over 40 distinct community based efforts aimed at improving opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. Through California Convergence these groups share lessons learned, identify best practices and, most importantly, develop shared policy and program goals to speak with one voice on key policy issues. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Communities Putting Prevention to Work (ARRA-CPPW) funding announcement in September 2009 provided an opportunity to leverage these significant investments by supporting ARRA applications that shared these agreed upon statewide policy goals. It offered the first tangible opportunity to garner federal support to take place-based, policy change obesity prevention models to scale. Working closely with foundation partners, California Convergence leadership and the California Department of Public Health, TCE brought together state advocates, community organizations and state leaders to develop a shared agreement regarding the highest and best use of ARRA funding. Each partner subsequently leveraged its own resources to incentivize local applications that supported targeted policy and program goals and built the long term capacity of the California Convergence, its statewide policy efforts and the movement for healthy eating and active living.