We are a statewide policy and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of low income Californians by increasing their access to nutritious, affordable food.

CFPA values public policies that recognize the fundamental contributions of nutrition to health, education, productivity, and overall well-being.
Since our founding in 1992, we've employed a variety of strategies to develop and implement such policies.

Our Core Strategies

Legislative and administrative advocacy at the federal, state, and locals levels to strengthen public nutrition programs.

Policy-oriented research that assesses barriers to optimal nutrition, food insecurity, and the efficacy of nutrition programs in California.

Promotion and outreach to further public education about key nutrition issues and nutrition programs.

Technical assistance and training that empowers advocates and community members to engage in nutrition policy.

Local, state, and regional partnerships with advocates and community-based organizations to collectively identify and address critical nutrition issues facing low-income Californians.

CFPA Milestones

The following milestones highlight our yearly accomplishments in improving the health and well-being of low-income Californians by improving their access to nutritious, affordable food.

In 2011 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 6, modernizing CalFresh by moving California to semi-annual reporting, eliminating finger imaging for CalFresh, and implementing a "Heat and Eat" program.
  • Sponsored AB 69, allowing for streamlined CalFresh enrollment of eligible seniors through data sharing with the Social Security Administration.
  • Launched the REAL School Food Initiative to develop strategies and pursue policies that  support the preparation of fresh school meals made from whole and minimally processed ingredients.
  • Launched RENEW Los Angeles with one year results including revamped school meal menus for LAUSD that are aligned with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

In 2010 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 2084, establishing nutrition standards for beverages served in licensed child care facilities.
  • Sponsored SB 1413, requiring that K-12 students have access to free drinking water during meal times.
  • Launched the revamped BreakfastFirst Campaign.
  • Unveiled The 411 on Phone Interviews website to support counties waiving the face-to-face interview for food stamps.
  • Celebrated the launch of CalFresh: California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the culmination of successful legislative, research, and design efforts.

In 2009 CFPA...

  • Published an influential white paper on improving direct certification.
  • Testified in three federal hearings on child care nutrition, direct certification, and commodities.
  • Co-hosted the 10th annual Food Stamp Forum with the California Department of Social Services.
  • Successfully advocated for USDA's approval of California's request to waive in-person interviews for food stamps.
  • Led effective efforts calling for USDA to reject California's request to extend quarterly reporting for food stamps.

In 2008 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 433, removing the $2,000 asset test for food stamp applicants and requiring a new name for the California Food Stamp Program.
  • Sponsored AB 2300, providing state authorization for the use of Medi-Cal data in direct certification.
  • Helped secure significant food stamp improvements through the Farm Bill.
  • Released a report assessing the impact of the federal Child Nutrition Commodity Program on school meals.

In 2007 CFPA...

  • Helped secure a federal omnibus spending bill that included a national expansion of the Simplified SummerFood Service Program.
  • Successfully advocated for an increased state reimbursement for school meals, contingent on improved nutritional quality.
  • Released Running on Empty, a report examining the status of the School Breakfast Program throughout California.
  • Celebrated successful state budget efforts to provide, by default, food stamp benefits to single adults without dependents (ABAWDS) in areas of high unemployment.

In 2006 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 2384, authorizing the Healthy Purchase Pilot, an incentive program for households using Food Stamp benefits to procure produce.
  • Sponsored AB 569, leading to a thorough examination of severe need schools not offering breakfast.
  • Launched the Stampy Awards to honor efforts aimed at improving the Food Stamp Program in California.

In 2005 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 1385, requiring the use of computer data matching to directly certify students for free school meals if they receive CalWORKs or food stamp benefits.
  • Promoted implementation of the California Fresh Pilot Project, which offered an additional per-meal reimbursement to schools serving more produce at breakfast.
  • Sponsored the Cafeteria Improvement Motion, enacted by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education to improve the quality and appeal of school meals.

In 2004 CFPA...

  • Successfully advocated for the Year Round California Child Nutrition Pilot and improved direct certification through the federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.
  • Joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and others for the first statewide release of School Meals Initiative (SMI) data.
  • Helped create the ENACT Lobby Day - the first lobby day in California to focus on reducing obesity through nutrition and physical activity policy.

In 2003 CFPA...

  • Sponsored AB 231, establishing transitional food stamp benefits for former CalWORKS recipients, removing vehicle value from the asset test, and requiring county consideration of applicant hardships that might inhibit in-office interviews.
  • Partnered with summer meal sponsors to host California Congress members from the Education and Labor Committee at summer lunch sites for discussions about federal legislation that would expand summer nutrition programs.
  • Released Touched by Hunger, a report examining food insecurity across California.

In 2002 CFPA...

  • Staffed a new task force, convened by First Lady Sharon Davis, to serve 1 million low-income children who were benefiting from school lunch but not school breakfast.
  • Partnered with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research to publish the first assessment of food insecurity in California's 58 counties.
  • Successfully advocated for the district-wide policy banning soda sales in Los Angeles Unified School District -- a first among large school districts.

In 2001 CFPA...

  • Successfully advocated for a higher standard utility allowance, providing increased food stamp benefits to thousands of low-income Californians during the energy crisis.
  • Distributed the Provision 2 Tool Kit, showing low-income schools how to skip burdensome paperwork and serve free meals to their students.
  • Convinced the Legislature to audit the state finger-imaging system to better assess a critical barrier to Food Stamp Program participation.

In 2000 CFPA...

  • Sponsored SB 2013, simplifying California's lengthy and confusing Food Stamp Program application.
  • Supported a direct certification initiative that certified 52,000 California students to receive free school meals.
  • Successfully advocated for legislative action requiring the first county-by-county measures of hunger and food insecurity, leading to new metrics in the California Health Interview Survey.

In 1999 CFPA...

  • Sponsored the state's first proposed school breakfast mandate, introduced by State Senator John Vasconcellos.
  • Co-sponsored the first Food Stamp Forum with the California Department of Social Services.
  • Released a report showing a lack of nutrition assistance for more than 1 million year-round school students during school breaks, despite the availability of federal funds.

In 1998 CFPA...

  • Successfully advocated for expansion of the California Food Assistance Program.
  • Convened summer meal sponsors in six regional summits to develop program improvement recommendations.
  • Successfully advocated for legislative action that changed state start-up and expansion grants to include summer nutrition as well as school breakfast.

In 1997 CFPA...

  • Co-sponsored legislation creating the California Food Assistance Program to provide food stamp benefits for documented immigrants barred from the federal Food Stamp Program.
  • Successfully advocated to keep 136,000 single adults eligible for the Food Stamp Program in California.
  • Supported the first Hunger Lobby Day, bringing constituent voices to the State Capitol.

In 1996 CFPA...

  • Stymied dozens of punitive state proposals with the Bad Bills campaign.
  • Successfully advocated for an additional $1.5 million in start-up funds for summer nutrition programs nationwide.
  • Sponsored the Measuring the Impact meeting and a national conference on food access in low-income communities.

In 1995 CFPA...

  • Partnered with other advocates to protect public nutrition programs against the Congressional Contract with America.
  • Produced the School Breakfast-Decision Makers Packet, delivered to superintendents of 1,200 low-income schools.

In 1994...

  • California granted $3 million in breakfast start-up funds, resulting in over 160,000 students at 300 school gaining access to the School Breakfast Program.
  • CFPA and the Children's Alliance founded the Western Region Anti-Hunger Consortium to strengthen the collaboration of nutrition and anti-hunger advocates across state lines.

In 1993 CFPA...

  • Won state funds for school breakfast start-up grants, resulting in 50,000 students at 188 schools gaining access to the School Breakfast Program.
  • Led a Legislature-appointed coalition on child nutrition that ultimately guided program reauthorization.
  • Coordinated a county-by-county food stamp outreach drive to increase enrollment in areas with low participation.

In 1992...

California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA) was founded to prevent hunger and improve nutrition for low-income Californians.

CFPA...

  • Issued its first white paper, which sought a more equitable allocation of WIC funding.
  • Joined with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation to enroll more districts in the School Breakfast Program.
  • Helped establish San Francisco's first collaboration of emergency food providers.