Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116779

Maryann Mason, PhD, Mary Ann & J Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60614-3394, 312-573-7771, mmason@childrensmemorial.org

Background: TASK is a cross-sector collaboration and part of the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC). TASK's purpose is to: evolve a method for developing community-based public health promotion partnerships, create effective community-based initiatives that support safe and physically active travel among school children, and to utilize schools to promote physically-active travel in the community at large.

Methods: Using data that included community demographics, pedestrian injury rates, parental focus groups and parental assessments of community walkability, TASK initiated a community-specific planning process in four Chicago community areas (CA).

Results: TASK has developed lasting partnerships with 7 schools in 4 CAs. Stakeholders from multiple sectors participate in Community Solutions Teams (CST). 3 of 4 CSTs have completed Community Plans, and intervention implementation is beginning.

Discussion: Findings suggest several strategic approaches to developing interventions to increase safe physically active student travel. They include: making safety central to physical activity promotion program planning, targeting specific needs of individual communities, incorporating perceived benefits of walking child to school, addressing family level barriers, addressing issues beyond student travel.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Recognize the challenges of creating active-travel plans in urban communities marked by racial and ethnic diversity and generally low socioeconomic status;
• 2.Identify the need to focus on communities such as these in active community planning.
• 3.Discuss the pros and cons of engaging the wider community in its own planning around active travel for children.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.clocc.net

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.