142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

5038.0
The Role of Parks in Healthography: The Unique Contribution of Our Nation’s Greatest Resource to Health and Wellbeing

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Oral
National and large regional park associations, including the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Miami Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS) have an interest in demonstrating how, when properly designed, systems of parks, public spaces, natural and cultural areas, streets and greenways – the built environment or public realm– combined with evidenced based programs can have a profound effect on the health and well-being of adults and children. These are low cost, high value solutions to the obesity epidemic our nation currently faces. Yet, the current pattern of development—sprawl-- threatens populations’ health by reducing opportunities for physical activity, thus contributing to increasing rates of obesity and related chronic disease in the US. In this session, a multifaceted case study (to include specific examples of a built environment study, structured afterschool health and wellness program, how mass media can be a park partner to carry health and wellness messages to the community, and specific policies to move the agenda forward) of the MDPROS will be presented. This case study will illustrate the potential for Park and Recreation departments throughout the nation, through a comprehensive and coordinated policy planning framework, can develop holistic solutions to public health challenges.
Session Objectives: (1) Describe the current state of a County Park/research-based Public Health/ Media collaboration to develop policies to work through the park systems to improve county-wide public health. (2) Discuss the initiatives based on this work and the opportunities and potential for increased collaboration, actionable research, and effective implementation. (3) Engage audience in two participatory exercises (one physical and one planning) to demonstrate hands-on approaches described in this session to improve community health and well-being.
Moderator:
Zarnaaz Bashir, MPH

8:30am
Improving Health through Park and Recreation Policies
Maria Nardi, MLArch, Jack Kardys, MSM, Joanna Lombard, MArch, Scott C. Brown, Ph.D., Alissa Turtlelaub, MS, Joseph Webb, John Bowers and Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhD
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
8:50am
Roles of Parks and Housing in the Health and Well-Being of Miami Medicare/Medicaid Beneficiaries
Scott C. Brown, Ph.D., Joanna Lombard, MArch, Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D., Maria Nardi, MLArch, Steven Marcus, EdD and Regina C Gray, Ph.D.
9:10am
Partnering with Mass Media to Promote Health and Wellness via our Community's Existing Park, Recreation and Open Spaces Resources
Jack Kardys, MSM, David Landsberg, Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D., Maria Nardi, MLArch and Doris V Howe
9:30am
How One of our Nation's Greatest Resources Can Help Children Maintain Healthy Weight and Cardiovascular Fitness: It Starts in the Parks!
Sarah Messiah, Ph.D., MPH, Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD, Gabriel Somarriba, DPT, Allison Diego, MPA, Jack Kardys, MSM, Kevin Kirwin, MPA, Eric Hansen, Renae Nottage, Shawn C Ramirez and John H Armstrong, MD, FACS

See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.

Organized by: Community Health Planning and Policy Development
Endorsed by: Public Health Nursing, APHA-Committee on Women's Rights

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)

See more of: Community Health Planning and Policy Development
<< Previous Session | Next Session >>