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

Abstract #66813

Jim Carman, MS, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 942732, MS 675, 601 N 7th Street, MS 675, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, 916-324-3996, jcarman@dhs.ca.gov

The Physical Activity and Health Initiative (PAHI), a cooperative venture of the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and UCSF, has taken a public health approach to both public and private sector employees throughout the state. The California Health Promotion Collaborative, developed and nurtured by PAHI is serving as a focal point for regular communication, professional education and interaction and is instrumental in the development of health promotion tools for employers. By working in cooperation with key disciplines and centers of influence, and uniting the efforts of regional coalitions, local health departments, state and county agencies, universities, employers, associations, other public health programs, and California Legislators, PAHI is working to advance a worksite health promotion culture and agenda among employers. PAHI is making low-cost, effective behavior change programs available to a broad network of employers. With the availability of web-based turnkey programs and communication tools, the attitude among many employers that health promotion programs are cost-prohibitive is beginning to change. In turn employers’ insights and suggestions regarding policies that are helpful to them are being gathered by PAHI and communicated to policy makers. Further, in collaboration with other programs, using formative research, PAHI is working to overcome barriers to health promotion among both employers and employees. The PAHI Take Action! web site serves as an example of the use of technology to disseminate information and to enhance collaboration at minimal expense.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate 3 advantages of public health as a convener of worksite health collaborations
• Describe strategies to overcome 3 barriers to implementing worksite health promotion programs frequently cited by employers
• List 3 advantages of web-based turnkey programs as a dissemination system

Related Web page: www.ca-takeaction.com

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.