America On Track

SERVING MORE THAN 44,000 ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR, AMERICA ON TRACK BREAKS THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, INCARCERATION AND HOPELESSNESS THROUGH LONG-TERM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND LIFE-ENHANCING PROGRAMS. AMERICA ON TRACK, AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS FOUNDED IN 1995 TO FILL IDENTIFIED SERVICE DELIVERY GAPS IN THE FIELDS OF HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, HEALTH & FITNESS, AND TOBACCO/VAPE & DRUG USE PREVENTION THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY. THE MISSION OF AMERICA ON TRACK IS TO INSPIRE BRIGHTER FUTURES BY BUILDING YOUTH LEADERS, SUPPORTING FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH LIFE-TRANSFORMING PROGRAMS. OUR VISION IS TO CREATE MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL INEQUITIES AND HEALTH DISPARITIES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, FITNESS & NUTRITION, AND TOBACCO/DRUG USE PREVENTION. OUR MOTTO IS: CREATING BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR COMMUNITIES & YOUTH SINCE 1995!

AMERICA ON TRACK CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE TOBACCO PREVENTION PROJECT - AN INNOVATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM THAT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE NORTH REGION OF ORANGE COUNTY - FUNDED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH CARE AGENCY. OUR GOAL IS TO LOWER YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES, AMONG NUMEROUS OTHER OBJECTIVES, WORKING WITH 4 TARGET HIGH SCHOOLS, CONDUCTING TOBACCO AND E-CIGARETTE PREVENTION EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS TO OVER 1,200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, DEVELOPING MEANINGFUL AND ACTIVE YOUTH TASK FORCES AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL, AND CONDUCTING OUTREACH WITH PARENTS FROM EACH OF THE 4 HIGH SCHOOLS. ALSO, THE PROJECT INCLUDES WORKING WITH ALL OF THE TOBACCO RETAILERS WITHIN A 2-MILE RADIUS OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ASSESS ILLEGAL SALES TO YOUTH AS WELL AS EDUCATING THE MERCHANTS ON YOUTH ACCESS LAWS, DEVELOPING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING A 5 STAR MERCHANT REWARD PROGRAM AND A SOCIAL SOURCES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

SINCE 2010, AMERICA ON TRACK HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING THREE CONSECUTIVE 5-YEAR GRANTS FROM THE CALIFORNIA TOBACCO CONTROL PROJECT (CTCP), CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO REDUCE SECONDHAND SMOKE EXPOSURE IN ORANGE COUNTY. THE GOAL OF OUR CURRENT ON TRACK FOR A TOBACCO-FREE ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT ARE PREVALENT IN COMMUNITIES WITH A HIGH LATINO POPULATION AND HIGH PERCENTAGES OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND LIMITED-EDUCATION INDIVIDUALS. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS BY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF: SMOKE-FREE CITY POLICIES IN SANTA ANA AND BUENA PARK; VOLUNTARY SMOKE-FREE MUH POLICIES THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY; AND POLICIES ELIMINATING THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MENTHOL AND OTHER FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN THE CITIES OF BUENA PARK AND STANTON.

SINCE 2017, AMERICA ON TRACK HAS BEEN AWARDED GRANTS (2013-2017, 2017-2020, AND 2021-2023) FROM THE COUNTY OF ORANGE HEALTH CARE AGENCY, NUTRITION SERVICES TO PROVIDE DIRECT AND INDIRECT NUTRITION EDUCATION TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND WHO SUBSIST BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IN VARIOUS KEY LOCATIONS IN ORANGE COUNTY. THE NEWEST 2-YEAR GRANT (WHICH BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2021) SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON PROVIDED CALFRESH HEALTHY LIVING SERVICES IN THE CITIES OF BUENA PARK AND SANTA ANA.