We are excited to launch our quarterly newsletter, and we hope you'll find some of the content useful for your work. The newsletter focuses on promoting physical activity projects throughout the mountain state, and we'll share resources to help you create policies and environments that promote physical activity in children and adults in your local communities.
-Sam Zizzi and Eloise Elliott (co-directors)
In this edition:
• Our work in WV communities
• The WV Physical Activity Plan: Sector Spotlight on Healthcare
• Success stories from around the Mountain State
• Professional development and networking
Our Work in Communities
Be Active WV Grants
West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, through a partnership with West Virginia Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, is funding projects statewide to increase physical activity.
Be Wild. Be Wonderful. Be Healthy. is a 5-year project promoting increased access to physical activity and improved access to healthy foods in Clay and McDowell counties. This project prioritizes local solutions to health-related challenges in WV communities.
The WV CARDIAC Project provides sustainable comprehensive risk factor identification, education, awareness and advocacy to engage and empower West Virginia children, families and communities to embrace a culture of wellness.
Active Academics is a free web-based resource that provides practical ideas for PreK-8 classroom teachers to integrate physical activity throughout the school day.
Shenandoah Community Health Foundation restored a deteriorated 2006 walking trail and installed exercise stations located adjacent to the trail. The project is the catalyst to promote on-site activity options for patients and staff at the SCH multi disciplinary facility in Martinsburg, WV. SCH launched a "prescription initiative"-- pre-printed prescriptions for activity and health education sessions distributed by clinicians to their patients. Patients are invited to accompany clinicians for a periodic "Walk with a Provider" sessions and with nurse health educators for health education combined with a demonstration of the importance of physical activity to establish and maintain good health.
Exercise moves mountains and Mountaineers are on the move! Check out some local initiatives around Mountain State that are getting West Virginians moving.
How will you #BeActiveWV? We want to feature your local project in an upcoming Newsletter. Tell us more here!
Policy Highlights
Did you know there is a state policy on shared use of physical activity facilities at schools and other public facilities that limits liability for principals and administrators?