WalkWorks: A community-based public health initiative

WalkWorks is a large scaled, community-based health improvement initiative based at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. The initiative is operated in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local organizations in six rural counties in Western Pennsylvania. Funding originates with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

WalkWorks seeks to increase physical activity by establishing community-based walking initiatives. Through WalkWorks, access to local walking routes and social support of individuals wanting to improve their activity habits is enhanced. Specifically, WalkWorks • identifies, maps and promotes safe walking routes that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities, • establishes and promotes guided community-based walking groups, and • advocates for local policy related to pedestrian transportation in the built environment.

The initiative was designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) to conform to MAPPS strategies. Community-based organizations lead implementation at the local level in counties described as “high risk”. Health educators, public health practitioners and researchers at GSPH assist local partners with project implementation and evaluation by providing technical assistance in individual and group formats. Areas in which technical assistance is provided include work plan development, data collection and advocacy.

This presentation will focus on the process of establishing and maintaining working relationships with community-based organizations in order to implement a public health initiative. It will describe the benefits and challenges associated with a community-based approach.