An intergenerational health and wellness program for all Texans

1. An intergenerational health and wellness program for all Texans Karl Urban Deputy Director Texas Department on AgingforNGA Policy Academy

3. Aging Texas Well means that Texans prepare for aging in all aspects of life and that state and local social infrastructure facilitates aging well throughout the life span.

5. New ATW graphic from Rick

6. Goals • Promote awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity coupled with proper nutrition. • Bring families and neighborhoods together to add mutual support to the process of positive lifestyle change.

7. A Systems Approach to Promotion Fitness and Nutrition • Translate evidence-based fitness programs for older adults into community settings statewide by sharing best practice models and developing tools for individuals • Educate and involve older Texans and their families in physical activity and proper nutrition throughout their lifespan • Build community capacity to promote health and wellness • Use a wide variety of mutually-beneficial arrangements with partners from the aging network, business, faith community and the public sector

9. For the Individual… Provide tools and resources needed to adopt a positive lifestyle consisting of regular fitness activities and proper nutrition

10. Tools for Individual Activity • Texercise Handbook – motivates individuals in creating a fitness routine • Personal Fitness Logs – tracks personal progress • Nutrition Recommendations – creates awareness of healthy nutrition • Resources and fact sheets – provides additional information on fitness and healthy eating

13. Partners Provide • Legitimacy and visibility • Participant incentives (e.g. t-shirts, food) • Information-distribution channels • Special event development • Publicity and public relations • Education

14. Diversified Marketing Outreach • Strong, synergistic partners (“win-win”) • High visibility events, workplace initiatives, senior center programming, health fairs, retirement groups, parks and recreation • Media support through senior, faith-based and aging network channels • Leverage local initiative at all levels • Tie-in with established programs needing a wellness component

15. Recognition and Respect

16. Some Thoughts on Partners • It can be great strategy to identify a large organization -- private or public -- with which to link your program and gain the benefits of name-recognition-by-association, funding, free advertising, logistical help and so forth. But given this imbalance of size and influence there's a natural tendency for the small organization's well-thought-out priorities and strategies to be redefined beyond recognition (a.k.a. Tail Wags Dog Syndrome). Larger, better-funded partners also can be less than fully attentive to your timelines when there's no material payoff motivating them to share your sense of urgency. This doesn't mean one should avoid joint ventures with the big playas, or that all efforts to modify one's focus should be resisted unto death. But if "branding" is a major goal, all partnerships should be entered into with a clear two-way understanding of who's the daddy in which contexts.

17. You Will Succeed If You… • Create a state-level team with diverse talents focused on a simple goal • Build on instead of replicating • Partners • Resources • Tools

18. Potential Resources • Health and Fitness Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, JCC • Hospital or health care network wellness • City or County Parks and Recreation Departments • Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness • Senior Centers • City or County Health Departments • Local Service Clubs

19. You Will Succeed If You… • Create a state-level team with diverse talents focused on a simple goal • Develop partners and resources • Make it a state and/or community priority through involvement and coordination with public officials

20. Don’t You Dare Assume… • Early, easy success • It takes time and momentum and commitment • Make a difference without cultivation of and benefit to partners • It takes a “win-win” approach