Cambodian American Legacy Coalition of Long Beach

July 8, 2011 Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H. Director and Health Officer Los Angeles County Department of Public Health 313 N. Figueroa St., Room 806 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Dear Dr. Fielding: The Cambodian American Legacy Coalition of Long Beach is pleased that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH), Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Preventions (DCDIP) is reaching out to grassroot communities to develop a proposal for the Public Prevention Health Fund: Community Transformation Grants. As a coalition dedicated to serving the survivors of the Cambodian holocaust and their families we know that chronic disease especially diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health is taking a tragic toll in our community. Cambodians die of diabetes at a rate twice that of other Californians. The Cambodian Community is eager for aprogram that will improve access to healthy foods and safe exercise as well as activities that promote the mental health of ourcommunity . As a coalition, we are committed to culturally and linguistically appropriate activities that can truly transform our community from one that is increasingly dying from chronic disease to one that provides hope and guidance for health to the next generation. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is a leader among local health departments. The Department leverages its resources and expertise to work effectively with local, stateand federal government agencies, as well as with key community partners, to develop, support and implement evidence-based preventive services, policies, and strategies that impact the leading risk factors for chronic disease. The DCDIP has made important and innovative strides to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and protect our communities from secondhand smoke. The DCDIP is addressing the complex contributing factors that lead to overweight/obesity and related chronic conditions by working to improve the nutritional environment and increase physical activity opportunities. The Long Beach Cambodian Legacy Coalition is made up of the oldest community organizations in the city and includes the Cambodian Association of America, Friends of Mount Carmel, Khmer Parents Association and the United Cambodian Community. Please accept this letter as a formal recognition of our strong support for the DCDIPs grant proposal for the Public Prevention Health Fund: Community Transformation Grants. If funded, our coalition will collaborate enthusiastically with the DCDIP in bringing the important public health goals proposed in the grant application to our community. We look forward to our continued partnership and commitment to improve the health of all of Los Angeles Countys communities.

Sincerely,

Representative of Coalition

Dany Man, Program Coordinator Cambodian Association of America Long Beach CA (562)-988-1863

Mary Blatz, Executive Director Friends of Mount Carmel Long Beach, CA 90806 maryblatz@gmail.com (562)-394-2216c

Chan Hopson, Executive Director Khmer Parent Association ( 562)-435-7828 Email: misschan@khmerparent.org

Sara Pol-Lim, Executive Director United Cambodian Community Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 433-2490 spol98@aol.com