Collaboration between CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE San Mateo County and local school increases access to green spaces and empowers youth through a Garden Buddy system.

The Issue

Woodrow Wilson Elementary school is located in Daly City, San Mateo County, a densely populated urban area near San Francisco. Over 72% of its 371 students qualify for the Free and Reduced Meal Program. The school has had no dedicated green space. There are documented health benefits received from spending time in green spaces, yet a 2019 landscape and urban planning study found inequities in access to urban vegetation in communities that have lower income levels and are more ethnically and racially...

The Issue

Red imported fire ant (RIFA,...

A UCCE-led work group promoted the use of EBT/CalFresh and other farmers' market incentives for families to purchase more fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets, resulting in a 30% increase in EBT/CalFresh customers.

The Issue

Lack of access to fruits and vegetables has been cited as a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic, particularly in low-income communities. Farmers' markets have the potential for increasing equitable access to local fruits and vegetables....

As a result of the UC 4-H Mindful Me classes, 77% of participants agreed that they were better able to manage negative emotions, improving their health and wellness.

The Issue

The social-emotional health of American youth is of growing concern. The Centers for Disease Control reports that anxiety and depression are on the rise in American children ages 3-17, with an estimated 7.1% and 3.2% of children currently being clinically diagnosed, respectively. There are many postulated factors that may influence these trends including social isolation, too much screen time, a focus on personal desires, hyper-competitive activities, over-scheduling, poor diets, lack of sleep, less time...