June 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 61

grains, drinking more water and milk and drinking
fewer sugary beverages.
% Reports of parents/caregivers eating new fruits and
vegetables, trying new foods, cooking according to
MyPlate and cooking more as a family.
% Improvements in staff (many of whom are older
teens and young adults) knowledge of healthy living and in staff making associated behavior changes,
such as increased fruit and vegetable consumption
and reduction in sugary beverage consumption.
The impact of nutrition education efforts, coupled
with a program environment that supports access to
healthy foods and physical activity, is essential to establishing healthy habits in youth and families. These
changes reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve
health outcomes for all populations.

Commit to Health agencies are social
workers, mentors and role models.
It's no secret that eating healthy, moving more, spending time outdoors and having positive social experiences with friends and family contribute to significant
improvements in mental health. Kids, parents and staff
report that kids who attend park and recreation programs at Commit to Health sites are healthier, happier, less stressed and increasingly socially engaged with
their peers. The need for fostering these positive social
and emotional outcomes and for understanding the
links to physical and mental health is perhaps greater
than it's ever been. Communities across the country are
struggling to deal with traumatic experiences and other
matters frequently impacting youth and families, from
rising rates of substance use and the crippling opioid
epidemic, to violence and school safety concerns and
significant educational, economic and health disparities that continue to plague low-income communities.
Since they are well-connected to all aspects of community, park and recreation professionals are often the
first to identify, acknowledge and address the needs
of kids in crisis. Staff members see it all: kids who are
struggling with a crisis at home, kids who are at risk of
becoming a victim to violence or gang involvement and
kids whose families are struggling to put food on the
table and keep the electricity turned on. Out-of-schooltime programs that provide protective factors, including enrichment activities, youth sports and physical
activity, access to healthy foods, youth development
opportunities, tutoring and mentorship, and social experiences, can transform lives. These critical offerings
support improved mental and social-emotional health

It's no secret that eating healthy, moving
more, spending time outdoors and having
positive social experiences with friends
and family contribute to significant
improvements in mental health.
through the positive effects of physical activity and a
connection to nature, but also by providing opportunities to link relationship-building skills, teamwork and
respect to existing activities.
Out-of-school-time programs in park and recreation
settings are well-positioned to continue to infuse more
of these social-emotional learning aspects into daily programming and activities, supporting positive physical
growth and development and improved mental health.
Is your agency leading communitywide health and wellness efforts? Reach out and tell your story! Contact Allison
Colman at acolman@nrpa.org to share your work.
Allison Colman is an NRPA Program Manager (acolman@nrpa.org).

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Parks & Recreation

June 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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