By the California Department of Public Health ATRC Team
Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) in California participate in bicycle and walking projects through the Active Transportation Program (ATP). These activities often fall under the purview of health promotion and community wellness programs within the LHJs.
Whether applying for an ATP infrastructure, non-infrastructure, combination or plan project, all require robust public participation and/or engagement that is meaningful, sustained, ongoing, and supported by local partners. LHJs are experienced in community outreach methods and will be effective partners in this work. LHJs can also provide local health data for your project area such as crash or injury mapping, and/or rates of physical activity, obesity and other chronic disease risk factors; these data can support applications and add depth to community engagement activities.
LHJ organizational structures vary widely and depend on local governance structures, available resources, and specific community health needs. To identify your local health jurisdiction, go to the CDPH Local Health Services/Offices page and search for your county. Depending on the county, you may find a community-related section with contact information or a contact form. For example, Los Angeles County of Public Health has the Office of Planning, Integration, and Engagement’s Community Engagement Unit, which supports partner engagement across all their projects and health topics. Whereas, smaller public health departments, such as Madera County has a Prevention, Outreach, and Community Engagement Services section. This section has a mission to increase the well-being of the community by offering educational workshops and training regularly, in which one could present an active transportation proposal.
If you’d like help connecting with LHJs in your community, please reach out to us at [email protected].