The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45131

Beverly Hyatt Roach, MSPH, RD, Bureau of Health Education and Promotion, Salt Lake Valley Health Department, 2001 S State St #S-2400, Salt Lake City, UT 84190-2150, 801-468-2868, broach@co.slc.ut.us and Connie Kitchens, MS, A Healthier You 2002, 299 South Main Street #1300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-2241.

The Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games were the first Olympics to sponsor a community health initiative. The Olympics, representing the pinnacle of athleticism and the physical performance of a healthy human body, galvanized a coalition of 18 Utah health organizations, Home Depot, and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee who formed and funded A HEALTHIER YOU 2002. This program used inspiration from Olympic athletic excellence to motivate Utahns toward healthier behaviors. The coalition met three years in advance of the Olympics and identified five health topics. Representatives from the eighteen agencies collaborated in state-wide health promotion activities including:

· Gold Medal Miles, where participants earned an official Winter Games Pin for walking a prescribed one-mile course

· Nutrition Trackers, where individuals marked their inclusion of 5 daily fruits and vegetables for three weeks to earn an official Nutrition pin

· Safety Wear-It Cards where participants recorded their use of seat belts and safety helmets for one month to earn an official Spirit of Safety pin

· Healthy Behavior Trackers to earn an official Healthy Living pin after recording four weeks of healthy stress reduction activities as alternatives to alcohol, drug and tobacco use

· A Personal Health Assessment was provided online to review recommended prevention screenings and services for adults

By January, 2002, 14,305 Utah adults had walked in 117 separate Gold Medal Mile events, 67,000 Nutrition Trackers and 109,000 safety cards were distributed in both English and Spanish, and 15,000 Healthy Behaviors trackers had been produced. Other activities included media events, fitness success stories, and installation of 30 permanent walking routes throughout the state.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Participants will identify important factors needed in developing collaborative health promotion programs
  4. Participants will list ways the above factors can be applied using other significant community, national or international events.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Collaboration

Related Web page: www.saltlake2002.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: A Healthier You 2002
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment