Partnerships & Collaborations
Summer presents a unique opportunity to develop new community partnerships–and initiate relationships that can last throughout the year.
Lunch at the Library: Connecting Summer Nutrition and Learning
The California Summer Meal Coalition and the
California Library Association have been working with libraries
throughout the state to foster partnerships between summer meal
providers and public libraries. Read more about the effort
here.
Local Health Departments: Natural Partners
Many California health departments receive funding
to conduct nutrition education activities among SNAP-eligible
families and have formed County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP)
workgroups, with the goal of supporting the health of low-income
families. Be sure to check out our guide, Leveraging County Nutrition Action Plans to Keep Kids Healthy When School is Out, to
learn how CNAP groups can support local summer meal
programs. Click here to learn more or to find out if your local health department is participating.
Establish a Community-Wide Effort
Start a dialogue with other partners in the
community to identify the barriers to summer meal program
participation and opportunities for collaboration. The San Diego
Summer Lunch Task Force brought together partners from across the
county to develop a strategy for increasing access to summer
meals throughout the county. Read the executive summary
here.