Socioeconomic factors greatly influence access to resources that are important for health, such as: healthcare, education, safe and affordable housing, food, and recreation. Between 2010 and 2014, 21.5% of Butte County residents were living below the federal poverty level. Unfortunately, Butte County’s high poverty rates have also led to an increased prevalence of food insecure households. Food security is defined as having enough to eat and the ability to purchase or obtain healthy food in socially acceptable ways. In 2012, over half of the households in Butte County with incomes near or below the federal poverty level reported being food insecure.

CSU Chico Center for Healthy Communities, CSU Chico Health & Community Services Department, Butte County Public Health Department Women Infant & Children's (WIC) Program, Butte County First Five Commission, Gridley Reaching Out for Wellness, and St. Timothy's Episcopal Church

• In 2015, a partnership was established for CSU Chico students to conduct outreach to individuals and families to obtain WIC and CalFresh benefits.
• The CSU Chico students participated in more than 26 family community outreach events during the 2015-2016 school year. 200 WIC and 400 CalFresh outreach materials have been distributed.
• In the spring of 2016, construction of a community garden was completed at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Gridley.

• Training is occurring on a semester basis for new CSU Chico students in WIC and CalFresh outreach strategies.
• WIC is developing an action plan to increase utilization of WIC farmer’s market vouchers.
• The Center for Healthy Communities and WIC are developing a plan to utilize a “soft handoff” or a hyperlink to refer clients to WIC and CalFresh benefits, in addition to conducting outreach events.