Mohave County
Department of PUBLIC HEALTH
700 W. Beale Street, Kingman AZ
Promoting Lifetime
Activity for Youth
Promoting Lifetime
Activity for Youth is a free, teacher-directed physical
activity program targeting students in grades four through eight. This innovative
program is offered by the Mohave County Department of Health and Social
Services. It was developed to address the recommendations of the 1996 Surgeon
General's Report on Physical Activity and Health. The goal of the program is to reduce coronary heart disease by increasing the number of
Arizonans who get at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on
most days of the week.
Physical inactivity has been named the number two preventable cause of death
(second only to tobacco use) because of its role as a primary risk factor for
cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite progress towards reducing other CVD
risk factors, there has been little improvement in increasing physical activity
levels. Through the implementation of the Mohave County Promoting Lifetime
Activity for Youth Program,
we plan to accomplish the following:
To increase the number of 4th - 8th grade youth in participating schools
who accumulate 60 minutes of daily, moderate - intensity physical activity.
To teach skills that promote self-directed lifetime activity in youth from
participating schools.
To foster the value to be physically active among youth in participating
schools.
To increase public awareness of community opportunities for physical
activity.
To reinforce the importance of an active lifestyle to residents of Mohave
County.
In 1996 the Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth program was introduced to teachers
and students in Mohave County. Each year the program has averaged
2100 student participants county wide. The average number of
classroom teachers participating each year is 80, along with an average of
17 schools per year.
Mohave County will
provide:
Teacher training
Health Educator for class visits and technical assistance
Activity ideas
All materials for
program (student manuals, wall charts, game cards)
Equipment for class
(balls, jump ropes, frisbees, cones)
Some student incentives
Conduct
post-evaluations with students
Teachers will:
Attend teacher training
and attend wrap-up meetings
Commit to completion of
Promoting Lifetime
Activity for Youth
Implement
Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth according to specified schedule
Be enthusiastic about
physical activity
Discuss the importance
of physical activity with students
Collect
post-evaluations from parents, and
School Liaisons will:
Coordinate with county
personnel to schedule training and visits
Implementation Steps For Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth Program:
STEP ONE:
Teach Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth Behavior (Implement for one week)
Discuss the importance of physical activity with your students
Prompt all students in your class to move during activity breaks
and/or recess
Allow students to move at a pace that is comfortable to them
Mohave County Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth program coordinator will visit your classroom
to increase awareness and interest in physical activity with students
STEP TWO:
Introduce Teacher-Directed Activities (Implement for at least three
weeks)
Direct the 15 minute activity breaks most days of the week and teach a
variety of games and activities (use game cards provided)
Teach students that any activity is good activity - you don't have to
be an athlete to be active! Just enjoy yourself!
Demonstrate that the school and community environment values
participation in regular physical activity.
Mohave County Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth program coordinator will visit your classroom
to demonstrate 15 minute activity breaks for students and teacher
STEP THREE:
Teach Self-Directed Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth Activity (Implement for at least 8 weeks,
but, can be implemented for the remainder of the year)
Program becomes self-reporting and self-directed
Encourage students to spend at least 60 minutes a day, at least 5 days
a week, being active
Gradually place responsibility on the student to develop regular
activity habits
Each morning remind students to record their previous day's activities
on their student log sheet
Place the classroom wall chart in a prominent place with each
student's name listed. If they have accumulated at least 60
minutes of activity for at least 5 days the previous week they receive a
stamp for that week
Mohave County Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth program coordinator will visit classrooms to
explain use of the log sheets and goals for students
WHY Promoting
Lifetime Activity for Youth Works For
Kids!
Please fill out the Request for participation form below and send to
Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth by clicking on the "send to
Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth" button when you are
finished
OR
Contact Jack Steele, program coordinator, contact
information is listed below.
OR
Click HERE to print off a copy of Teacher Participation
Form, fill out as much as you can and send to Jack Steele by mail or contact
Jack Steele to coordinate a pick up from your school. Contact
information is listed below. Thank You.
Teacher's Name
Principal's Name
Name of School
Address of School
Phone
Fax
Email
What grade do you teach?
Did you participate in the Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth Program last year?
Jessica Schuddekopf Mohave County Program
Coordinator
Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth
Mohave County Department of Public Health
700 West Beale Street
P.O. BOX 7000
Kingman, AZ 86402 - 7000
Phone: (928) 753 - 0794 x4322
Fax: (928) 718 - 5551
email: jessica.schuddekopf@co.mohave.az.us
This publication was supported by the Preventive Health & Health
Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Its
contents do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC. Equal
Opportunity/ Reasonable Accommodation Employer. If you need this
publication in an alternate format, please contact ADHS at (602) 364 - 2401
(voice) or (800) 367 - 8939 (State TDD/TTY Relay).
