As the nation's oldest and largest community-based organization with a mission dedicated to health and wellness, the YMCA movement is uniquely qualified and positioned to impact this crisis by promoting and supporting healthier living for millions of Americans.

There are three key components to Activate America: operational/programmatic innovations, community leadership, and strategic partnerships. The work done under each of these components will ultimately help to refine how YMCAs operate to better serve health seekers.

As an Activate America YMCA, The Missoula Family YMCA is making a local, public commitment to intensify our role as a leader in supporting healthy living.  Specifically, here in Missoula, The Missoula Family YMCA:

• Is participating in America On the Move Week at the YMCA, September 23-30, 2006.  During this week, we will host a “Health Walk” as a way to motivate people to increase the number of daily steps they take.  The Missoula Family YMCA expects this effort to motivate people to take 2,250 steps that will contribute to the one billion steps that YMCAs nationwide are expecting to inspire people to take during America On the Move Week at the YMCA.

• Is launching a new program called “Family Track”.  Families will be encouraged to get on the “Family Track” with their children and spend 30 minutes of social / physical time engaged in activity each week during specific “Family Track” hours.

• Is participating in YMCA Healthy KidsÒ Day this spring – an annual special event that, through fun, engaging and creative activities, encourages children and families to adopt behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle. 

• Is implementing the CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health) program in collaboration with Saint Patrick Hospital and many of our local schools.  CATCH is a coordinated School / After-School / Youth Program health program designed to prevent sedentary behavior, poor dietary choices, and tobacco use through changes at the early childhood level.  CATCH uses multi-component health promotion efforts targeting both children’s behaviors and the educational environment, including classroom curricula, food services modifications, physical education changes, and family reinforcement, in an effort to reduce chronic disease risk factors.

• Has implemented Move Missoula.  This year as part of Move Missoula, The Missoula Family YMCA implemented many strategies to increase opportunities for healthier eating and physical activity at the YMCA including:

• Improved food offerings as snacks in programs and meetings
• Improved availability of healthy options in vending machines
• Encouragement and flexibility for staff exercise
• Available space for breastfeeding
• Promoting active life-styles and encouraging participants to use the stairs
• Offering Nutrition Classes

• Completed Youth Obesity Audits.  Last year all programs offered at the Missoula Family YMCA completed a brief audit of the time spent in physical activity, nutrition or healthy life-style education, and the quality of dietary offerings when applicable.  Many programs were able to make improvements based on their new awareness.  This year we will create a list of “Best Practices” in an effort to share programmatic ideas between departments.

• Has introduced Sportwall.  We are proud to announce the addition of new state-of-the-art equipment that will allow all ages to participate in fun and healthy physical fitness activities. This exciting equipment leverages the excitement of computerized entertainment into physical activities that everyone - regardless of age or ability - can utilize to help them get fit in a fun, creative and convenient atmosphere.

• Is dedicating staff resources to community collaboration and education.  The Missoula Family YMCA has sent key staff to present or learn as part of a growing collaboration of Missoula agencies on issues ranging from Meth use to youth obesity.

For more information on YMCA Activate America at The Missoula Family YMCA and related programming, please contact us at (406) 721-9622