The primary role of the Wellness Task Force is to focus California’s legislators on issues of nutritional health and physical fitness and to promote smarter state and local policies to address the state’s obesity epidemic. In coordination with other public health advocacy organizations and collaboratives, the Task Force is leading three projects to promote legislation which will increase nutrition and physical fitness access and education:

1. Educate state and local lawmakers regarding critical child and adult obesity issues, including current research, data, and local and state initiatives;
2. Build support for state legislation that seeks to provide better access and education for nutritional health and physical fitness through expert testimony, research, and grassroots advocacy;
3. Educate the child and adult nutrition and physical fitness fields regarding pending legislation and obesity issues through a statewide grassroots advocacy alert system.

Educational Policy Briefings

Each year, our Policy Committee helps to organize a series of policy briefings to educate state legistators and their staff on the most pressing health policies of the legislative term. Briefings are held at the State Capitol and open to the public. They are educational in nature; we do not advocate for or against any legislation.

2010 Briefings

• Virtual Dental Briefing - June 18, 2010, 10:30 AM - 12 Noon

• Children and Beverages: Why we care - May 21, 2010 -  Agenda

• PERK (Physical Education Research for Kids): Research Findings and Policy Recommendations - February 4, 2010 - Agenda | Full Report

2009 Briefings

• Oral Health Care in Schools | Agenda
• Childcare/ Pre-K Nutrition | Agenda
• Physical Education in Schools | Agenda

Current Health Legislation

• California Center for Public Health Advocacy
• California Food Policy Advocates