CAASP Tackles Inactivity

May 24, 2013

New funding for CAASP tackles inactivity in the after school hours. Initiative provides support to organizations to enhance the quality of their active after school programs.

[OTTAWA, May 24, 2013] – With only 7 per cent of Canadian children and youth getting enough physical activity in their day, close to $1 million in funding was announced today by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the Canadian Active After School Partnership (CAASP) – a national initiative aimed at equipping Canada’s after school providers and parents with better tools to address this concern.

“The time for change and action is now,” said Chris Jones, Executive Director and CEO of Physical and Health Education Canada. “Research shows that up to 30 per cent of physical activity for children and youth happens after school. Together, with our partners, we’re tackling the issue of inactivity head on by fostering the delivery of, and access to, quality active after school programs.”

By promoting healthy living to Canada’s population, CAASP is working to address the need for equal access for all Canadian children and youth to quality, active after school programming. Specifically, the funding announced covers four key projects:

Reducing community barriers to active after school programs, led by Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
Supporting mental health through active after school programs, led by Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
Engaging home and family to enhance access to after school programs, led by Physical and Health Education Canada and;
Engaging aboriginal children and youth in active after school programs, led by National Association of Friendship Centres.

CAASP has established an unprecedented online hub for after school providers to access and share resources. Pilot projects have been launched across Canada in a variety of communities, targeting multiple youth populations, from aboriginals, those with a disability, and girls and young women. In addition, the partnership has gathered critical national data from parents and guardians via an online survey.

“The collaborative action among these organizations is providing a highly effective and impactful way of working together,” said Jones. “The sum of all our parts include massive networks of users, experts, experience, relevant projects and a range of additional partners. The Public Health Agency of Canada should take pride in facilitating this new and highly effective way of working together.”

The partnership is collaboration between the following organizations:

Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
National Association of Friendship Centres
Physical and Health Education Canada

The projects announced today are funded under the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Healthy Living Fund, totaling nearly $1 million over two years.

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For more information:
Brent Gibson
Communications Manager
Physical and Health Education Canada
brent@phecanada.ca
613-400-9861

http://activeafterschool.ca/
https://twitter.com/activeafterschl

NT5