Lancaster, Los Angeles County
Contact:
- Jean Varden
Email
Phone: (661) 713-4999
Fax: (661) 951-9715
Tiara Sigaran - Phone: (661) 942-4719 ext. 459
Fax: (661) 951-9751
Address:
45104 10th St.
West Lancaster, CA 93534
About Us
HEAL Local Partnership
The Lancaster HEAL Local Partnership will create an environment in the schools and neighborhoods that promotes, encourages, and supports healthy eating choices and active living for children, families, and adults.
Strategies | Link to Cross Site Strategies
The Lancaster HEAL Local Partnership is focusing on motivating to eat complete healthy meals and strengthen the quality of physical education programs. The project is encouraging families to make healthy food choices and engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day, particularly making use of the City’s bikeways, walkways and trails for everyday commuting, recreation, and exercise. The strategies address the following goals:
1. Increase student consumption of healthy food served in schools meals (i.e. fresh fruit and vegetables)
2. Increase physical activity in and out of school
3. Increase awareness of healthy food choices and serving size among parents, students and staff
Partners | Link to Partnership Structure
Teh Lancaster HEAL Local Partnership grant is spearheaded by Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH), a community based organization for local public health planning and intervention in the Antelope Valley. It is our vision that all children and families in the Antelope Valley will have optimal psychosocial, physical and environmental health.The project also brings together a robust community coalition comprised of the City of Lancaster, Lancaster School District, local public agencies, multiple community-based organizations, employers, local businesses, faith-based organizations and health care providers.
To find out how you or your organization can get involved, contact Tiara Sigaran, BS with Antelope Valley Partners for Health at (661) 942-4719 ext. 459 or tsigaran@avph.org.
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Lancaster School Administrators Participate in El Monte City School District Breakfast in the Classroom
Superintendents, school food service directors, principals, parents, and city officials from across California surged at Wilkerson Elementary School in the City of El Monte to view breakfast in action. Jean Varden, HEAL Project Coordination in Antelope Valley said, "the event was very useful to help the school administrators envision how the program can work and steps to get started." Marilyn Belcher, Director of Child Nutrition at Lancaster School District; Anita Molino, Director of Child Nutrition at Eastside Union School District; and Margo Deal, Principal at Eastside Elementary School commended the City and School District relationship to create a healthy community.
In 2013, the El Monte City School District in partnership with the City and Mayor's office Wellness Team rolled out Breakfast in the Classroom in all 14 of their elementary schools. California Food Policy Advocates organized the morning visit on February 6th to showcase best practices to increase school breakfast participation. Dr. Robert Lewis, Food Service Director, shared the strategies, fiscal benefits, and ongoing efforts to build a culture of student wellness. Teacher Minerva Garcia shared how breakfast in the classroom has reduced tardiness, nurse visits, and enhanced her students' focus on their lessons. The Mayor, Councilwomen, and School Board Members were also present to recognize the school district efforts and vision to create a healthy community. For more information, contact Arpiné Shakhbandaryan.
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Lancaster Wins 2012 Helen Putnam Award
The Wellness Homes, operated by Antelope Valley Partners for Health and part of "Lancaster's Holistic Approach to Healthy Neighborhoods," received the 2012 Helen Putnam Award. The community-based center provides physical, emotional and instructive support for residents. The City developed this multi-pronged approach to link residents with much needed social and economic support services and resources.
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North Long Beach, West Ventura, and Lancaster Create Safe Routes to School
HEAL Zone partners and residents are walking in their neighborhoods with clip boards and cameras. Why, you may ask? To survey the conditions of their neighborhood streets to ensure children have safe walkways to school. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is collaborating with the City of Long Beach Department of Public Health and Ventura Department of Public Health to engage the community in walkability assessments. The resident findings will help decision makers prioritize community capital improvement projects in the Zones.
North Long Beach HEAL Zone's walking club residents conducted a walking audit of Star King Elementary School and the surrounding neighborhood. West Ventura HEAL Zone residents completed a walkability assessment at the newly inquired Kellogg Park and the DeAnza Academy of Arts & Technology. Antelope Valley Partners for Health is working with school and community champions to pilot Walking School Bus programs in the HEAL site schools.