• Overview
• Project Impact
• Logic Model
• Research Project

National and Wisconsin-specific research indicates higher rates of obesity and lower levels of physical activity (PA) exist among children and adolescents of low socioeconomic status (SES) and certain racial and ethnic groups, compared to their peers. Low PA levels are closely linked to obesity, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. A serious effort to improve the health of Wisconsin’s children must focus on, achieve, and document increased PA and improved fitness. The proposed project, Wisconsin Partnership for Childhood Fitness, Phase II, (WPCF II) will focus on the unique challenges and needs faced by Wisconsin schools with high populations of low SES and racial minority students.

The WPCF II goal is to increase the level of fitness among low SES and racial minority youth. The project’s guiding principle is that promoting childhood fitness has inherent health benefits for child health, and is the most effective treatment, and prevention strategy for childhood obesity. The Department of Public Instruction (community partner) is requesting $400,000 for the time period of July 1, 2011-June 30, 2014 to support the activities described below.

To address the disparities of low fitness levels and obesity found in low SES and racial minority youth phase II proposes these major activities:

1. Research-Conduct laboratory assessments on a diverse population of middle school youth in conjunction with school-based assessments to further refine and improve school-based fitness testing to predict obesity-related health problems, (UW’s research project)

2. PA Strategies-Institutionalize evidence-based and promising PA strategies and policies suitable for schools, particularly with high populations of low SES and racial minority students.
3. Fitness Data-Provide professional development and technical assistance to schools on the proper administration and use of evidence-based student fitness testing.
4. Fitness Report-Collect and analyze fitness assessment data and provide useful reports to participating schools, parents, and health care providers.
5. Policy-Collaborate with state partners to advance state policies to support physically active and student cardiovascular fitness testing. Provide technical assistance, consultation, and resources to schools and local partners on policy development and implementation.

WPCF II will achieve the following short term (one to three year) outcomes:

1. schools will have used validated fitness assessments to measure student health and program impact;
2. 50 schools with significant populations of racial minority and low SES students will have implemented and sustained evidence-based PA strategies;
3. student fitness testing was properly used in 300 elementary, middle, and high schools (phase I and II schools) to address the needs of racial minority and low SES students;
4. state fitness testing data collection system collected representative student data from 95% of participating schools and is providing useful data reports; and
5. state and local policies were adopted to institutionalize the use of evidence-based cardiovascular fitness assessments and effective PA strategies.

WPCF II will help Wisconsin meet the proposed objectives in the PA focus area found in the state health plan, Healthiest Wisconsin 2020. Objective one, increase PA for all through changes in facilities, community design, and policies, will be addressed by improving the school environment through policy to increase opportunities for students to be physically active Objectives two and three of the state health plan focus on providing safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate environments to promote increased PA, especially for diverse populations. Phase II will allow the participating schools to build PA programs that are accessible, safe, and appealing for low SES and racial minority students. In addition, the enhancement of the existing WPCF website to become an important data system to monitor and measure impact of state initiatives to increase PA and fitness levels connects directly to the overarching objective: Systems to manage and share health information and knowledge.