About Us

Through a multi-source review of local health disparities data, the CFHC identified obesity as the key issue to address between 2007-2010. We believe that reducing obesity among children in Compton is a gateway to improving overall community health. The goal of the CFHC is to reduce the obesity rate among children in L.A. County’s Service Planning Area 6, which encompasses Compton, from 29.0% to 24.0% by 2010.

The collaborative meets quarterly, including a year-end celebration of accomplishments.

Collaborative Capacity Building

A 10-member CFHC Leadership Task Force (LTF) was formed in September 2006 to serve as the working group of the CFHC. The LTF works to strengthen the CFHC’s infrastructure through strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, the LTF works to identify new partnerships, create work plans, and increase the visibility of the CFHC.

Next Steps

The CFHC continues to grow its membership and strengthen partnerships to create community-level change. Currently, we are focusing on our partnership with the Compton Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services Department to improve the school food environment as one way to help reduce childhood obesity.

Compton Community Obesity Needs Assessment Results

In 2007, the CFHC conducted resident and other stakeholder surveys and focus groups to determine what issues the community as a whole considers most pressing in addressing the issue of obesity. Overall, obesity was identified as both a personal and community problem, meaning that a multi-level approach would be most effective.

Among the other findings of this 125-respondent survey were that:

• 75% believe that obesity is a “huge problem” in the community.
• 67% of parents want schools to teach more about nutrition.
• 67% of parents would like to see collaboration between schools, parents and community to address obesity.
• 58% report eating healthy foods “sometimes,” “rarely” or “not at all.”
•  50% report not getting any exercise.

Key issues identified as barriers to combating obesity were:

• Access to healthy foods in the community
• Lack of youth sports leagues
• Community safety as a barrier to outdoor physical activity