“Movers and Shakers: Putting Policy to Practice”

1. “Movers and Shakers: Putting Policy to Practice” Mary Brummagyn, R.N., BSN Albany County Department of Health April 26, 2010

2. Demographics • The poverty rate in our target area (City of Albany) is twice as high as Albany County (27% vs. 12%) • Hospitalization rates in our targeted area for diabetes and cardiovascular disease are universally higher than county and state rates • The obesity rates in New York State among 6-11 year olds is 15%

3. Diabetes Hospitalizations in SAH catchment area

4. CHANGE Tool The CHANGE tool assessment in our schools was informed by many interested parties: • Administrators • School Nurse Teachers • Classroom Teachers • Physical Education Teachers • Food Service Personnel • After School programs

5. What we learned: • Deficiencies were noted in the amount of physical activity in the City’s elementary schools • Schools were aware of the lack of time allotted for physical education and had instituted a mandated 6 minutes of a dance routine per day for the elementary schools • Mandate was not tracked/compliance?

6. Champions

7. School Nurse Teacher Concerns: • Obesity is a growing problem • Children have fewer opportunities for physical activity • Neighborhoods less than ideal areas for physical activity

14. 5 Year Goal: We will establish and sustain additional physical activity throughout the school day in 4 elementary schools! 5 Year Goal: Establish and sustain additional physical activity throughout the school day .

15. Proposal to increase P.A. during classroom time • SNT recruited volunteer classroom teachers • Met volunteer teachers (pre-K through 5th grade), including a 10 minute "workout” and a light dinner • Partners from Cornell Cooperative and insurance companies joined us • Discussed evidenced based articles touting the benefits of P.A. (way to transition, more focused kids, happier kids, improved academic performance) It gets the wiggles out! • Provide tools and incentives to implement the program (12 weeks)

16. Thoughts about sustainability • In-kind donations were received from Cornell and insurance companies • Teachers provided a wish lists of tools that they needed to implement the 6 minutes of activity: DVD players, CD players, timers, water bottles, back packs, stickers, DVDs and CDs. • Tracking done through the use of a calendar or “homework board”.

24. Mid-Way Evaluation • Anecdotal comments from classroom teachers and students: • “Thank you so much for all the goodies. We are putting them to great use and we do have happier children. More focused.” (4th grade teacher) • “This is wonderful. All is well and we are getting more fit than ever.” (Pre-K)

25. “Thanks. The kids are loving it!! Some of the things I did, I thought they might think were childish…they love it! And so far it is helping them focus!! YAH! (4th Grade Teacher)

26. “We feel better after we exercise!” (5th grade student)

27. Formal Evaluation • At the end of 12 weeks, the teachers and SNT will come together for a group evaluation. • Written evaluation, designed by the University at Albany, School of Public Health students, will be collected. • Student evaluation will be obtained in the classrooms by the teachers.

28. Next Steps • Recruit more elementary teachers • Import design into Middle School, where possible • Work with local YMCA afterschool programs to engage kids in activities other than the traditional basketball, soccer, and baseball, where kids of all ages and abilities can join in, have fun and be successful.

29. Questions?