Hackers explore improving health in OC for families, youth and the homeless

We came. We Saw. We Hacked.

It was a simple idea: bring the community and app developers together to explore how technology can help overcome barriers to health in Orange County. 

13 pitches, 6 semi-finalist ideas, and 3 development teams later, and you have a trio of app prototypes that truly test how technology and community knowledge can work together to solve a key issue: access to better choices and health information where you're at. 
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Youth need access to free physical, mental, social & environmental where they live

"Youth need access to a wide array of programs and activities to grow and maintain health. Not just physical health, but mental, social and environmental health too," explained Moises Vazquez, who pitched a youth services directory. Daniel Pak, Jeffrey Chin and Garret Lamb answered his cal and built an app that allows youth service providers to list and tag their services so youth can  access programs that serve their interests by one or more tags.
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Families need simple, fun access to planning and nutrition help

David Dinh, Brian Wong and Jason Hoang collaborated to bring Breanna Janssen's "Kids 4 Life" app to fruition. The app lets you enter information about your family and then it recommends healthy meal plans and suggestions to replace unhealthy food with better choices. 

Homeless people need simpler access to key services without the dreaded"phone list"

Tassia Paschoal, J. Sebastian Ruiz, and Craig Spreeman  tackled the OC Burrito Project's idea for an app that helps the homeless connect with the services they need. The app features a full replication of the coordinated entry form that homeless service providers use as well as GPS generated listings of services like shelters, medical and emergency services.

Next Steps - Hack for Health and Hack-a-Thons

The Next Hack-a-thon

The prototype apps developed through this process show a lot of promise to be developed into full-fledged apps. Special thanks to Sabio coding academy who helped recruit so much talent for the Hack-a-thon. They have offered to help provide a fresh batch of recruits every 12 weeks.

​"We participate in Hack-a-thons," said Victor Campos, still tired from the City of San Diego 24 hour Hack-a-Thon he had just left hours before arriving in OC, "the Hack for Health was a great fit for us. We'll be back."

What's your idea for the next hack?

Hack for Health

Hack for Health will be releasing a fully-developed web app called Yealthy that helps connect you North OC residents with healthy food and activities in their neighborhoods via walking, bike or car/transit.

Story by Ryan Smolar