SportCorps“Putting Cleats on the Ground”

Overview

Through 25 years of focused research, innovative programming and

extensive outreach, Sport in Society has utilized the power of sport as a

vehicle for achieving individual and collective health. We educate and

support leaders both locally and globally to create sustainable programs

and systems that lead to a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment.

The Issue: Unhealthy Urban Communities

• Lack of opportunity translates not only into physical inactivity, but also into criminal activity, with FBI data showing a tripling of juvenile crime in the after school hours between 3- 8 p.m.

• Poor safety is associated with lower physical activity and higher prevalence of overweight in children

• The eventual cost of inactivity is more than $112 billion in wages lost, health care expenses, and ultimately, in human lives

• Children born today are expected to live shorter lives than their parents as a result of their overwhelming inactivity and poor diet

• Overweight children are at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems

• Urban youth have only 1/3 the opportunities to participate in sports as suburban children

• Urban girls participate at half the rate of boys

• Primary barriers to youth sport participation are transportation, safety, facilities and access

• Children who do not have consistent access to adult guidance and support have a higher incidence of at-risk behaviors

…healthy…

…and inclusive environment necessary

for individual and collective well-being.

Sport has the capacity to create a safe…

THE HEALTH CONNECTION

“The mission of Fitz UYS Health Connection is to improve the health and well-being of urban youth through physical activity and healthy development. “

SportCorps builds upon the Fitz UYS Health Connection program

and its outreach model. The Health Connection has had a positive

impact on more than 20,000 children through...

•focused programming

•in-depth training

•strong local partnerships

•creation of community touch points

History of Success

•Co-Creator of The Boston Youth Sports Congress

•Chaired working committees for Healthy Development, Urban Girls, Facilities and

Transportation, and Disability

•Co author of city wide needs assessment, Play Across Boston

•Member of White House Obesity Task Force

•Recognized by Academy of Arts and Sciences

•Member of Harvard Prevention Research Center Community Advisory Board

•Advisor to the World Sport Chicago Legacy Committee

Evolution of a Community Wellness Model

Boston Youth

Sports Congress

City-Wide

Working

Committees

Health Connection &

Play Across Boston

Health Connection

Expansion

Athletes in

Service

Junior Coaches

Academy

Mass. League

Partnership:

Health Corps

SportCorps

Baylor Health

Care System

200119991997 2003 2005 2007 2009 2010

Double Dutch

Community Meetings in

Every Neighborhood

The Solution: SportCorps

Mission: To mobilize individuals to increase access to physical activity and healthy development opportunities in local and global communities

Vision: To harness the power of sport to create healthy communities

“Putting Cleats on the Ground”

Objectives: • Create global impact

in a scalable and sustainable fashion

• Engage and empower individuals to improve the health of their local communities

• Showcase sport as a change agent

SportCorps Action Plan

Community Asset Mapping and Collaboration Building

Creation of Tailored Community-Specific Model

SportCorps Members Placed in Neighborhood Health Centers, Schools,

Community Organizations

• Conduct nationwide neighborhood needs assessment to determine physical activity opportunities

• Work with clinicians, schools, parents and key community leaders to strengthen the health of each community

• Implement physical activity programming linked to healthy development initiatives

• Community organizing –support existing sport programming

• Delivery of need-based programs that fill gaps

• Coordinate with SIS resources and SportCorps University Research Fellows

• Build relationships with physicians , health center staff, community members and university partners

• Provide prescription policy for physical activity and healthy development

• Provide nutrition, diversity, leadership, and violence prevention curriculum

Long-term Sustainable Impact

…healthy…

…and inclusive environment necessary

for individual and collective well-being.

Sport has the capacity to create a safe…

• Create sustainable physical activity and healthy development opportunities that lay the foundation for greater overall community health and safety

• Provide training in our nationally recognized violence prevention curricula

• Increase opportunities for physical activity

• Promote overall healthy development- social, emotional, physical, and academic

• Provide life-skills training to youth and youth service providers

• Link youth and their parents to health services and physicians

• Increase access for all youth to traditional and non traditional sports participation

• Increase girls physical activity

• Bring key community stakeholders together to develop a long term partnership to increase physical activity and healthy development

University

Schools

Health Center

Community Center

School

Housing Authorities

School

Community Organizations

SportCorps - “Putting Cleats on the Ground”