Issue 7- August 2015 | NCPPA.org
August 26, 2015


Welcome to Issue 7 of the Activity Advocate, NCPPA's comprehensive e-newsletter on physical activity. The Activity Advocate includes policy updates, news updates, conference and event updates, organizational updates, and research all focused on physical activity.

Physical Activity In the News
P.E.: As American as Apple Pie Read

Why Great CEOs Do Yoga With Their Employees   Read (features CEO Pledge spokesman Jack Groppel) 
 
Churches Are Increasingly Adding Health and Fitness to Ministry Outreach

These Kids Can't Sit Still. And That's Exactly the Point of this New Reading Classroom Read

The Right Dose of Exercise for the Aging Brain  Read

Help Students Make the Grade this School Year through More Physical Activity  Read

This is What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Exercising Read

Sweat Not Only Keeps You Safe During A Workout, It Improves Performance Read

Why Kids Shouldn't Specialize in One Sport Read

Sport for All: The Case for Inclusive Physical Activity Programs Read

Why Exercise Is Important, Even If you Don't Need to Lose Weight Read

Exercise: The Steadfast Cornerstone for Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Lifestyle  Read  

This Is Your Brain On Exercise    Read

Upcoming Events
*Celebrate Active Aging!
September 2015 is the first annual Go4Life Month, an opportunity to focus attention on the health benefits of exercise and physical activity for older adults. The theme of the Month is Be Active Every Day! More

* The American Council on Exercise (ACE) will hold a free webinar Making the Case for Active Worksites , September 15 at 11:00am PDT (2:00pm EST) More

SHAPE America is sponsoring the Sedentary Conference,  October 15-17 in  Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. More

* The Every Body Walk! Collaborative and America Walks are excited to host the 2nd National Walking Summit , October 28-30 in Washington, DC More

* American Public Health Association ( APHA) 143rd Annual Meeting October 31- November 4 in Chicago, IL More

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Policy Update
Education Reauthorization and PEP

NCPPA is underway with a campaign to preserve physical education at the federal level. We have put together the following advocate letter. It is important that we coordinate our efforts here, using our collective resources as a coalition to take these messages far and wide in efforts to help save physical education. 

We have been told by Members of Congress that if they don't hear from us on the importance of dedicated funding for physical education (PEP Grants) then we will lose that funding in appropriations and once lost, it will be very difficult to ever get it back.

As a brief reminder, before the August recess, the Senate passed their ESEA Reauthorization bill, S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act, with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle, 81-17. The bill included the following physical education provisions:  
  1. Physical education is listed as an acceptable use in Senator Alexander's consolidated grant program.
  2. Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) is included (but not funded).
  3. Physical education is included as a core subject.
These provisions need to make it through what is anticipated to be a difficult conference, given the vast differences between the House and the Senate bill. Notably , the House bill eliminated all of physical education.

Please reach out to your Members of Congress NOW to let them know how important it is to preserve physical education in our nation's schools. And please disseminate our talking points and action alert through your networks. We are trying to capture the number of communications we are able to generate to Congress so if you can let us know about any grassroots mobilization you do, that would be great!

Physical activity, Living healthy, Access, Youth development, and Safety (PLAYS) in Youth Sports Act

Last year, members of the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) took to Capitol Hill to discuss the benefits of youth sports and encourage federal government to partner with community groups and volunteers to promote quality youth sports and enhance youth development and safety. The fruits of those efforts, in the form of the PLAYS Act, was introduced in late June of this year by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and already has 6 co-sponsors! You can find more about the bill here.

NCYS needs your help to increase the number of co-sponsors and advance this bill.  You can help in two ways:
1. Contact your Representative in Congress and ask him/her to co-sponsor the bill or thank them for co-sponsoring
2. Have your organization join the nearly 100 organizations that have come out in support of the PLAYS Act. To add your organization to the list email youthsports@ncys.org.

For a list of co-sponsors and current supporters, click here.

Research, Reports and Announcements
The Y Expands Commitment to Ending Childhood Obesity
through the MEND® Program YMCA of the USA and Healthy Weight Partnership, Inc., an organization that develops and implements evidence-based weight management programs internationally, are entering a long-term agreement that allows YMCAs across the U.S. to offer the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it! (MEND®) 7-13 program. MEND is one
of the world's largest evidence-based childhood obesity programs that empowers 7 to 13 year olds, with the support of their families, to reach a healthy weight. Learn more here.
What Is Physical Literacy? Is It the Key to Population Health? Earlier this summer, the Aspen Institute's Project Play released a white paper that offers guidance on a promising new strategy in improving the health of children and communities--physical literacy. Authored by the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Physical Literacy: A Model, Strategic Plan, and Call to Action, builds on research showing that children with motor skills competence are more likely to stay physically active into adolescence. Read
Stand Up For Health!  The attached article,  The Sedentary Office: A Growing Case for Change Towards Better Health and Productivity was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.   The expert statement, written from a group of international experts from the UK, Europe, USA and Australia, focuses on breaking up sedentary activity in the workplace. Read
The CEO Pledge for Physical Activity
As you know, the CEO Pledge for Physical Activity is NCPPA's national campaign to encourage every CEO In the United States and beyond to recognize physical activity as an important driver of employee health and business performance.
 
So far, 330 business leaders have signed the Pledge.
 
Will you help us get to 500?
 
Here are some ways you can help:
 

1. Make sure your own CEO has signed the Pledge

2. Link to the CEO Pledge on your organization's social media pages

3.Forward the CEO Pledge newsletter to your network of contacts. Link here CEO Pledge Newsletter

4. Ask the vendors of your organization to sign and support the CEO Pledge

5. Tell your friends and family!

 
Thanks for all your support.  To learn more, click Here!
WHO ARE WE?
The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity is a diverse blend of associations, health organizations, and private corporations advocating for policies that encourage Americans of all ages to be physically active.
NCPPA Policy Agenda

We want this newsletter to be as useful and informative as possible - so please send us your feedback and suggestions regarding current content and future topics we should address. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Ayanna McKnight
Fellow
NCPPA