We Can!® Chinese Families Campaign
We Can!® Chinese Families Campaign We Can!® Chinese Families is a bilingual nutrition and physical activity campaign, culturally adapted from the National Institute of Health’s We Can!® (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) program, and is the first We Can!® program in the nation that targets Chinese families. Under the Network for a Healthy California—Chinese Project, We Can!® Chinese Families partners with over 30 community agencies including Headstart programs, churches, youth agencies, day care centers to outreach to the low income Chinese families in San Francisco.
The program’s goals are to (1) prevent childhood obesity in the Chinese community, (2) collaborate with community agencies to create an environment for healthy eating and active living, and (3) provide culturally-appropriate educational materials. Campaign components include:
- Workshop series for families, including parents, youth and children;
- Provider trainings for community partners;
- Afterschool program;
- Media outreach
We Can!® Chinese Families workshops include concurrent workshops for adult, youth and children, focusing on empowering the whole family to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. Each workshop consists of interactive games, nutrition concepts, food tasting, small group discussion, cooking demonstration and physical activity. Key messages include: o Choose MyPlate o Portion size o Healthy drinks and snacks o Food label o Reduce screen time The campaign has made a difference to over 400 Chinese families. We Can!® Chinese Families model can be replicated in other Chinese communities to empower more Chinese families to lead healthier lifestyles.

36 comments
Cindy Tran • about 14 years ago
I love this program. It has been great program I have sharing with my families and friends, "We Can" promotion. Our families greatly appreciate being able to attend nutrition classes that cater to the culture and community. Keep up the good work!
Nelson Yeung • about 14 years ago
The 'We Can' Chinese Families Campaign has been a great success and a much needed force in promoting the importance of healthy living in the Chinatown community here in San Francisco, one of the major cities with highest Chinese American immigrant populations. Being one of the collaborators of this successful campaign in the community, I can see first-hand how the series of parents workshops and afterschool curriculum for elementary students have made a positive impact in the participants' lives. It has been a refreshing scene to see a lot of graduated members from the parents workshop coming to the Chinatown YMCA and participating in different group exercise classes, swimming in the pool, or jogging on the treadmills. It has been a massive task to raise the awareness of healthy living in this community, and it continues to be, but the dedication of this successful collaborative effort led by Network for a Healthy California—Chinese Project serves as a huge motivation and aspiration for all of us who share the same vision and goal.
Deborah G • about 14 years ago
This program is doing a wonderful and necessary work in the San Francisco Chinese community. It is touching families and making a tremendous impact on peoples' lives by promoting healthy eating and lifestyle and empowering the community to make informed decisions that will affect their lives in the present and future.
Robert Yee • about 14 years ago
The WE CAN! Chinese Families program is culturally adapted for use with Chinese families but I can see how this program be used in any community that wants to preserve its traditional food practices and involve the whole family in obesity prevention/intervention. Sounds like a great program!!
Janette Liu • about 14 years ago
Nice job! It is a very good healthy eating class for our next generation. I will show it to my kids! Thanks for the hard work!!!
Kari Lee • about 14 years ago
community collaboration like this one is not easy to come by. It takes commitment, connection, constant action. When the community comes together we can transform perceptions of health and exercise, get people active, and help families build healthier lifestyles one day at a time!! This is happening in San Francisco Chinatown!
Rose Sneed • about 14 years ago
Improving the overall health of children and families is an important issue; and one worthy of our attention and concerted efforts. The video was really informative, fun, and inspiring. Great work!!!
Kim Wong • about 14 years ago
This is really awesome!! Great work!
Gordon Hwee • about 14 years ago
This is some great information! I agree everything else said above!
Laura Yee • about 14 years ago
Thanks for sharing this amazing obesity prevention program with all of us. We can learn a great deal from your model of using culturally appropriate interventions with your Chinese families.
Rosa To • almost 14 years ago
Thanks to the whole family concept, which is the key to successful intervention to the Chinese community, our family is more conscious of healthy eating. Even our college kids want to stay healthy. We exercise more and have plenty of energy.