"Campeones para la Comunidad" a city-coordinated leadership program to engage local residents in health policy, research, and promotion

Rancho Cucamonga is located in San Bernardino County California forty miles east of Los Angeles. Two out of every three County residents are considered overweight and obese and three out of every four school children do not meet physical fitness standards. Obesity and other health indicators in Rancho Cucamonga parallel those of the County. The population of the Southwest area of the city is predominantly Latino with high rates of poverty, key risk factors for obesity and related health problems. Residents in Southwest Cucamonga face many challenges to healthy eating and active living but have voiced their intention to engage with their City to be part of the solution. Campeones para la Comunidad (“Community Champions”) was developed by the City to empower residents in Southwest Cucamonga to play a key role in making healthy food and safe spaces for physical activity more accessible. By utilizing a Community-Based Participatory approach, the City has created a sustainable program that has affectively engaged residents in policymaking, neighborhood assessments, and grant applications. This presentation focuses on the process to develop the program's curriculum which was generated in part by local resident observations, focus groups, and mapping exercises to identify local resident needs and expectations. Preliminary outcomes generated during the first year of the program – including health-related policies passed – will also be shared. This presentation will provide specific strategies for developing a sustainable resident leadership program (especially for Spanish-speakers) and recommendations for engaging non-traditional participants in policy, research, and other health promotion efforts.