Practicum Final Presentation

“Access to Free and Low-Cost Physical Activity Programs”

Team: Kristina Capron, Ellen Davidson, Talar Khatchadourian, Mina Nabizada, Thea Rome,

Brian Stern and Eda Tekeoglu

Supervisor: Stacey Flanagan

Graduate Program in International Affairs The New School

May 13, 2011

The Project

• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

– Department of Built Environment

– Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control

• Increasing access to free and low-cost physical activity programs and spaces in the five highest-needs NYC neighborhoods:

– North/Central Brooklyn

– East/Central Harlem

– South Bronx

Methodology

• Primary research composed of surveys and interviews

• Assessment of physical activity programs abroad and in NYC (including Shape-Up and walking groups)

• Analysis of non-profit physical activity partnerships

• Business wellness surveys

• Final proposal and recommendations to NYC DOHMH

Active Design Guidelines

Built Environment Program

Active Design Guidelines:

•Taking the stairs: Choosing the stairs instead of the elevator is a quick way for people to add physical activity to their day

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The Obesity Epidemic in NYC

Obesity increases the likelihood of and burden of various chronic diseases

•East Harlem: Almost two thirds of adults are overweight or obese

•Central Brooklyn: 32% of adults have high blood pressure and 26% have high cholesterol

•South Bronx: 1 in 4 adults (25%) is obese and almost half of adults (45%) report doing no physical activity

Source: Take Care NYC Community Profile, 2006

Deliverable I

Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity Programs

City Paris, France

London,

UK

Los Angeles,

California

Chicago, Illinois

Low Cost/Free Physical Activity Programming to Specific Demographic

No No No No

Low Cost/Free Physical Activity Advice and/or Guides

Yes Yes Yes No

Park Locator Yes Yes Yes No

Online Tools for Managing Health Yes Yes Yes No

Interactive Website Yes Yes Yes No

Domestic analysis: •Little to no successful programs exist

International analysis: •Paris offers interactive campaign

Key findings:•Client requests for Paris and Taiwan overview

International and Domestic Physical Activity Campaigns

I: Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity Programs continued

Paris

•Posters promote 30 min of physical activity

•Walking signs as reference for pedestrians

•Physical elements not well suited for NYC high needs neighborhoods

“Bouger” campaign: Signage showing walking distance

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Our conclusions

•Need for greater use of signs, posters and advertisements•Caution - consider the demographics

Taiwan

•Greater social marketing techniques could help promote physical activity

Signs in Taiwan: Walk 1000 steps

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I: Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity Programs continued

Deliverable II

Walking Group Feasibility Case Study

City Life is Moving Bodies (CLIMB)

•Columbia University Medical Center

•Community-based initiative: community health depends on safe parks and neighborhoods

•Since 2003, created and physically linked multi-use hiking trails, linked organizations, institutions, and the community Annual Hike the Heights –

promotes initiative and multi-generational activities

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“You have to make walking fun in order to motivate people” - Monique Hedmann, Walk it Out!

• Sponsored by the NYS DOH

• Comprehensive physical activity program for senior citizens residing in Harlem

• Partners with Columbia University – student walking instructors

• Partners with 10 senior centers in Central Harlem

• High turn-out due to incentives: t-shirts, water bottles, sweatshirts, and drawstring bags

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Walk it Out! At the Harlem Hospital Center

• Empire BCBS/City of New York Parks and Recreation

• Empire BCBS: targeting blood pressure among senior citizens in all 5 boroughs

• Low to no turn out reported at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem – As of today, location is cancelled Team Photo of Walk NYC Flyer

Walk NYC

Findings

“Walking groups for seniors are difficult: Promoting health benefits is not effective” -Dr. Hernández-Cordero,CLIMB

•We learned from CLIMB and Walk it Out! that incentives, promoting multi-generational activities, socializing/bonding with peers, and walking with a purpose are great motivatorsGoogle Image

Deliverable III

Shape-Up Feasibility Study

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study

N= 53, 100% Female

The line for Shape-Up Zumba class outsideof the East Harlem Asthma Center

Team Photo

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study

100% of the 45-54 group say they would be interested in leading a walking group

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study continued

Team Photo

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study continued

* Dance includes all forms noted: zumba, belly, salsa, merengue

• Children present: 87%

• Limited time for activity: 33%

• Of those, 100% would bring children to Shape-Up programs

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III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study continued

Deliverable IV

Nonprofit Assessment of Physical Activity Programming and Partnership

IV: Nonprofit Assessment of Physical Activity Programming and Partnership

• 6 out of 7 selected organizations offer physical activity programming

• 71% of non-profits partner with other agencies in physical activity initiatives

• All 7 of the organizations are interested in partnering with DOHMH in its physical activity initiatives

• 4 out of 7 organizations cater programming to 35-54 year olds

• 4 out of 7 organizations provide walking groups and group fitness classes such as Zumba and Aerobics

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The nonprofits who are interested in partnering with the NYC DOHMH’s physical activity initiatives are

willing to provide the following resources:

• 5 out of 7 organizations stated they would provide space (indoor and outdoor space)

• 3 out of 7 nonprofits could provide support staff

(trainers and instructors)

• 4 out of 7 organizations could offer funding assistance

Deliverable V

Business Wellness Survey

Type of Business

11%

45% 22%

22%

Fast Food Franchise Other Type of Franchise Independently-Owned Corporation Chain

Health Insurance Offered to Full-Time Employees

Business Wellness Survey continued

Business Wellness Incentives:

•4% offer wellness incentives

•89% reported that their employees would take advantage of wellness incentives, if they existed

Partnerships:

•52% would partner with the DOHMH

•15% have partnered with local gyms, restaurants, or other businesses

Deliverable VI

Proposal

Proposal

Pilot Program: East Harlem, phase into South Bronx/Brooklyn

•Women, 35-54 years of age

•Implemented by a community organization

•Best practices: CLIMB and Walk it Out!

–Incentives to facilitate turnout and community engagement

Proposal continued

Marketing

•Culturally-specific social marketing

– Signage, advertising, incentives and culturally-relevant classes such as Zumba or African Dance

 

Business Wellness

•Implement employee incentives

•Partner with nonprofits

Proposal continued

Proposal reflects

•Desires of DOHMH

•Needs of Community

Final Recommendation

•Framework that is self-sustaining

•Inclusion/Community partnership

Team Successes and Challenges

Successes

• Challenged individual comfort zones – Outreach and direct contact with community

– Community self-directed in discussing desires for programming

• Successes - Personal, academic and professional

• Personality Balance - Effective communication and negotiation with community stakeholders

• Open Communication

Obstacles

Focus Groups

• Difficulty in organizing

• Lack of resources for incentives

• Qualitative data and anecdotal evidence lost

• Further community contact stifled

Language barrier

• Languages spoken by group vs. community – Creole

Scheduling conflicts

• Commitment issues with DOHMH

Questions?

Thank you for your time!