Walking for a Healthier BHA Community

This relatively new health promotion program has been operating in four family housing developments—Cathedral, Lenox/Camden, Faneuil, and Old Colony.  The goal of the program is to prevent obesity among residents, and promote wellness more generally, by encouraging the most basic and natural type of exercise—walking.  At each of the participating developments, a Resident Health Advocate has taken the lead, organizing walking groups that are led either by the RHA herself or by another resident.  Together, the RHA and the other walk leaders recruit additional participants.

The Boston Public Health Commission has provided pedometers and walk logs for the walkers to track their progress. Many of the walkers lost weight and reported enjoying the social aspect of the walking group—and one member stopped using her cane after four weeks of walking.

Watch this video and get walking!

 

 

Are you a resident of a BHA family housing development and interested in taking part in this walking program? Contact Kailah Hayden-Karp at  Kailah@bu.edu or 617-638-5036

News You Can Use

The National Campaign for Full Funding for Public Housing in the United States is petitioning members of Congress to include full funding in upcoming legislation. Go to this weblink to find the petition and add your signature: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/
fullfundingforpublichousing/

Recent publications from PHH-PRC investigators:

Scammell et al., “Meeting People Where They Are: Engaging Public Housing Residents for Integrated Pest Management.” Progress in Community Health Partnerships 2011:5(2).

Rorie et al., “Use of a Resident Health Advocate Model to Improve Public Health Van Screening and Follow-Up Among Public Housing Residents” (Prev Chronic Dis 2011; 8(1)).

Douyon et al., “The GirlStars Program: Challenges to Recruitment and Retention in a Physical Activity and Health Education Program for Adolescent Girls Living in Public Housing” (Prev Chronic Dis 2010; 7(2))