The CHC Story

Modest Beginnings

CHC began in 2001 with one health program. Today it has more than 30 programs providing services all over California, including the 12 counties of Chico State’s service area. Once known as the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion (CNAP), the current name acknowledges CHC’s broader focus on health, wellness, and education.

Various Disciplines

CHC’s faculty and staff represent agriculture, business, child development, education, food safety, health and community services, journalism, kinesiology, management information systems, nutrition, public administration, public relations and media, graphic design, social work, and sociology.

Excellence in Programs

Center for Healthy Communities is recognized statewide and nationally for its faculty and staff achievements and its excellence in community health promotion.

CHC’s community programs promote food security, nutrition education, physical activity, food safety, and provide resources and training to thousands of California residents of all ages through:

• Basic Needs in Higher Education(opens in new window)
• Student Success & Service Learning(opens in new window)
• Community Health Promotion(opens in new window)
• Community Resource & Referral(opens in new window)
• Nutrition & Consulting Services(opens in new window)
• Local Food Systems(opens in new window)

Research & Evaluation

Research guided by CHC faculty and staff is diverse and encompasses areas including agriculture, nutrition education, and public health. Our research program helps CHC maintain its cutting-edge focus and evidence-based program development.

Student Success

Nationally Recognized Pre-Professional Training

Center for Healthy Communities’ internship program for university students is a model for civic engagement and experiential education. Preliminary findings suggest that more than 95% of CHC student alumni achieve their employment/graduate school goals. CHC provides internships to more than 120 unpaid undergraduate and graduate students, in many different disciplines, and paid student employment to an average of 40 students each year.