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

Abstract #66797

James A. Rye, PhD, Educational Theory and Practice, West Virginia University, PO Box 6122, 604L Allen Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506-6122, 304-293-3442 X1326, jim.rye@mail.wvu.edu and Nancy O'Hara Tompkins, PhD, Community Medicine, West Virginia University, 4406 Staunton Ave, Charleston, WV 25304.

HSTA is a grade 9 - 12 science enrichment program that targets African-American, Financially Disadvantaged, and First Generation College students in West Virginia. It is a partnership among numerous units of West Virginia University and many Appalachian communities. The partnership provides the infrastructure and support for students to carry out community-based science projects through after-school HSTA clubs, which are mentored by teachers, health professions, and volunteer community leaders. HSTA also includes an on-campus summer institute experience for students and teachers, and the opportunity for participating teachers to earn graduate credit towards a Master’s degree. HSTA clubs have the opportunity to play an important role in the overall statewide effort to increase physical activity, and thereby reduce the burden of overweight and obesity in West Virginia. Through HSTA club projects, the Education and Outreach on Healthy Weight and Physical Activity thrust aims to mobilize HSTA teachers, HSTA students, and identified community partners to increase physical activity opportunities and levels in their respective communities. The principal goal of these HSTA club projects is to determine effective strategies for increasing physical activity in West Virginia communities. HSTA teachers interested in facilitating these projects completed professional development on constructing logic models and a related proposal, and responded to a request for proposals to receive technical and financial support to carry out the projects. Qualitative data on the nature of the proposals will be presented along with findings from focus groups conducted with HSTA students and teachers prior to implementing strategies in their communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe ideas presented in the proposals on how best to engage HSTA in increasing physical activity through student involvement
• Describe themes from the focus groups on students' and teachers' understandings of overweight and obesity, barriers to physical activity in their communities, and possible solutions to increase physical activity

Keywords: Physical Activity, Partnerships

Related Web page: www.wv-hsta.org

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.