The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56362

Anthony G Cahill, PhD, Center for Development and Disability, University of New Mexico, 2300 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, 505-272-2990, acahill@salud.unm.edu

The Take Charge Challenge is a health promotion intervention designed to address these factors in people with disabilities. The Challenge is a personal goal setting behavior change and physical activity program grounded in the Transtheoretical Model Of Change. Features of the Challenge include individual goal setting, a noncompetitive team structure, incentives and evaluation. The New Mexico Office of Disability and Health (ODH) and its university partner, the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability (CDD) have adapted the Challenge from its original worksite implementation to one for people with disabilities in community settings.

Presenters would describe the theoretical basis of the intervention; outline components of the Challenge; report results of the multiple evaluations that have been conducted by presenters with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and present a consumer perspective on the intervention’s impact. This author would describe the evaluation process used and report some of the findings from the Challenges conducted.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• Explore the potentials of a new health promotion intervention for their constituencies
• Apply knowledge gained to develop of their own Challenge implementations
• Recognize and appreciate successes of current Challege implementations and what that might mean for their constituencies.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.