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NCPPA began to develop state coalitions in
1996 to help increase public awareness of the U.S. Surgeon General's
report on physical activity. State Coalitions work to promote
physical activity by exchanging information on best practices in community
organizing, outreach work, event planning, advocacy, and public education.
State coalitions actively work to promote
physical activity on many fronts:
- Actively support state and
federal legislation and public policy that supports and promotes
physical activity;
- Conducting state and local
physical activity programs that are designed to encourage behavior
change;
- Mobilizing community-based
organizations;
- Cultivating effective
contacts with public officials, community leaders, media, and other
policymakers;
- Supporting NCPPA national
efforts.
Although the leadership and membership vary
from state to state, many of the coalitions co-sponsor the same national
events and campaigns:
- For example, several state
coalitions sponsor ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously)
organized by the Youth Fitness Coalition, Inc. (see http://www.projectaces.com),
and Walk to School events (see http://www.walktoschool-usa.org).
- Many coalitions belong to
Healthy People 2010 coalitions organized by state and local health
departments or other coalitions promoting activity-friendly
communities (see www.healthycommunities.org).
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