Let’s Get Healthy / Seamos Saludables

Shafter Healthy Start recently received a $200,000 grant from The California Endowment to help children become healthier. The project, "Let’s Get Healthy" or "Seamos Saludables", started 18 months earlier at a meeting coordinated by Kern County Network For Children.

At that meeting, Larry Gonzales from The California Endowment encouraged Kern County's Collaboratives to submit proposals. He explained that Endowment funds are usually awarded to more urban areas of the state because Central Valley communities often do not submit proposals.

The Shafter Collaborative had already identified the need for improving the health of students through input from parents, teachers, staff, community members, School Board members, and collaborative partners. These needs matched The California Endowment goals and objectives perfectly. After an 18-month process of writing and revising the Communities First grant proposal, Shafter Collaborative learned they had been awarded the 2-year grant.

The project has four major components: In-class nutrition instruction, after school fitness activities, case management/home visitation for at-risk families and nutrition/menu planning classes for parents. To accomplish these components Richland School District has collaborated closely with the University of California Cooperative Extension Nutrition Program. They have trained teachers and staff and provided many materials for students and teachers. KCNC staff member, Cheryl Holsonbake, provides evaluation services for the project.

"This dream would not have become a reality without the assistance of Kern County Network For Children staff, Karen Bayne with the University of California Cooperative Extension, and Lyle Mack and Kevin Monsma of Richland School District. Carol Chamberlain and Paula Reynolds with The California Endowment were also very supportive and helpful throughout the 18-month grant process. We are excited to bring these Endowment funds to Shafter and, at the same time, help our children become more healthy!"

- Monte Albalos, Coordinator, Shafter Collaborative

View a mini-movie of Shafter's Health Fair.

Read the Original Proposal to The California Endowment.

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