Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113348

Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, National Nursing Centers Consortium, 260 South Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102 and Jenne` Johns, MPH, Students Run Philly Style Program, National Nursing Centers Consortium, 260 S. Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19122, 215-985-2672, jjohns@nncc.us.

Introduction: STUDENTS RUN Philly Style (SRPS) is a community based program of the National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC). SRPS is a mentoring program that will train middle to high school students to train for long distance running. This program is designed to promote healthy communities and lifestyles in North and West Philadelphia. SRPS is modeled after Students Run LA (SRLA), program with fifteen years of evidence-based success. SRPS provides transferable life skills such as goal setting, achieving goals, and determination.

Background: Childhood obesity and low levels of physical activity are among major health problems plaguing African American youth in Philadelphia.

Objectives: Measurable objectives of SRPS are: 1.) school attendance and graduation rates, 2.) physical assessment through Fitness Gram (developed by Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research), 3.) self-esteem, social and personal development

Methods: Student runners will train alongside 2-3 adult running leaders 3-4 times a week for 36 weeks. The students will engage in local organized race events from March- November. Throughout the program season students will also engage in bi-monthly health education workshops.

Results: SRPS coordinators learned the importance of building relationships and utilizing community resources to enhance the recruitment, enrollment, and marketability of the program. There will also be an increased report of healthy behaviors and practices.

Conclusion: SRPS is consistent with the vision of the NNCC to improve the health of vulnerable populations through neighborhood based health care services. This program contributes to the comprehensive list of best practice nurse managed models.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.)Identify five health risk factors associated with urban youth.
• 2.)List the physical health, social and academic status of Philadelphia’s youth.
• 3.)Articulate relationship building among adult mentors, youth participants, community members and community partners.
• 4.)Describe the importance of community collaborations including developing and securing networks to engage media, school districts, local and national philanthropic organizations.
• 5.)Replicate a West Coast Based School District program in an East Coast City,through nurse managed health centers.

Keywords: Community Health Programs, Adolescent Health

Related Web page: www.nncc.us

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.