Healthy & Active Before 5 is a leader in advocating for health equity for young children and their families in Contra Costa County. HAB45 is committed to building capacity and taking action alongside its partners for local policy change. The HAB45 Executive Committee collaboratively determines its top priority areas that shape the HAB45 Public Policy Agenda:
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Promote Land Use & Parks Policies that Expand Physical Activity Opportunities: Access to safe places to move and play is an essential ingredient for early childhood health. HAB45 will advocate for city and countywide policies that increase early childhood active play, preserve existing parks, form new parks, foster park safety, create 0-5 playspaces, and provide opportunities for active living in communities.
Prioritize Housing Security: Housing insecurity is a top concern for Contra Costa families. HAB45 works with trusted allies in the housing sector to highlight the needs of families with young children and advocate for policies that Protect tenants from displacement and eviction, Preserve existing affordable housing, and Produce housing that is affordable for low income families.
Advance Strategies to Increase Food Security: All Contra Costa families deserve access to affordable, healthy foods in their community. HAB45 supports policies at the organizational, local, and state level that increase access to fruits, vegetables, and clean water where children learn, play, and grow. HAB45 will also continue to support policies that promote breastfeeding and lactation accommodation in diverse settings.
Advocate for a Robust Safety Net: HAB45 is committed to advocating for a safety net that provides high-quality, comprehensive, and culturally relevant services to support the mental and physical well-being of all Contra Costa children, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, immigration status, or region.
In addition to these priority policy areas, HAB45 takes on additional advocacy activities in order to respond to current and emerging community needs. These include, but are not limited to, policies that promote economic security, early childhood education, mental health, health care, and racial and immigrant justice.