Hearts N' Parks Y2K was a pilot project to create model community-based programs in North Carolina to increase the number of children and adults who engaged in heart-healthy behaviors and to demonstrate the impact that community parks and recreation departments have on motivating behavior change. Primary cosponsors of the project were the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Recreation and Park Association. The project was initiated to help achieve three Healthy People 2010 objectives: 1) reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity; 2) increase to at least 30 percent the proportion of people who engage in moderate physical activity; and 3) increase to at least 30 percent the proportion of people aged 18 and older who engage regularly, preferably daily, in moderate physical activity.
Performance measures included: · What project elements were successful in changing the approaches used by personnel? · Did programmatic changes result in increased participation levels? · Did participation by residents lead to measurable change? · What approaches used by park and recreation agencies appear to be the most effective?
The role that park and recreation departments play in community health promotion is illustrated as well as strategies used to empower personnel. Results of the pre- and posttests, telephone survey, and discussion groups are described. Outcomes considered for participants included: increased knowledge of leisure-time physical activities and healthy eating; increased skill level; and change in attitudes and behaviors. Hearts N' Parks may help establish new standards for nationwide dissemination of health information through strategic empowerment approaches.
Learning Objectives: By end of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) Describe how the communities implemented the Hearts N' Parks program in their area 2) State what aspects of the program worked and what helped make them work, and know what didn't work and why 3) Describe the impact of such a community-based project on personnel partners and participants
Keywords: Heart Disease, Community-Based Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes--National Institutes of Health
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.