BluePrint Mini-Grants
Arthritis Foundation, Maryland Chapter
Owings Mills, Maryland
Project Title: Partners for Active Living
Amount Funded: $23,412
About the Organization/Coalition:
In 2002, the Arthritis Foundation partnered with the Community Health
Awareness and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) to initiate an on-going physical
activity program in Baltimore City. The initiative, Health Freedom Walk:
A Path to Wellness, promoted increased physical activity and made creative
use of Baltimore's integral role in the Underground Railroad. Participants
walked the 5-K route their ancestors traveled in a quest for freedom. To
prepare for the walk, walking clubs were established in accessible locations
throughout the city. The Arthritis Foundation's Walk with EASE program was
used, as volunteers led 8-week pre-training sessions.
Project Objectives:
- Support and expand a successful walking initiative, Health Freedom Walk:
A Path to Wellness. The goal is to recruit an additional 200 participants
who are currently not active to participate in the program.
- Train volunteers in churches and the community at-large to lead the People
With Arthritis Can exercise (PACE) Program for persons who are ready to
continue activity following the walk.
- Provide physicians with physical activity materials and information on
free community physical activity program offerings.
- Partner with the Office of Aging, American Heart Association, American
Diabetes Association, CHAMP, rheumatology offices, and the Maryland Dept.
of Health to share information and referrals, and to work on joint initiatives.
- Expand the Walk committee to include environmental agencies, hospitals, wellness
facilities, transportation officials, and corporations.
Progress Report:
The Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation accomplished these goals in 2003:
- Trained 12 new volunteers in the PACE program and offered the program in six new sites in the Baltimore City area. Five of these sites are African-American churches, and one is a senior center. Thirty people with an average age of 51 participated in the PACE program at the five church locations.
- Surveyed 285 participants of the 2003 Health Freedom Walk. The survey introduced participants to the PACE and the I Can, I Will programs and was used to plan an improved six-week pre-walk training session for the May 1, 2004 Walk.
- Continued the walking programs at three of the 11 training sites from the 2003 Walk.
The Arthritis Foundation plans to increase the number of walk training sites from 11 in 2003 to 20 sites in 2004, and increase participation to 400 walkers. A kick-off event will be held in February.
A mailing will be sent to health providers' offices in the community to encourage patients' participation in physical activity. Health care providers will receive a prescription pad on which they can write physical activity prescriptions or referrals to Arthritis Foundation programs and classes.
Contact Information:
Jan Thompson
Arthritis Foundation, Maryland Chapter
9505 Reisterstown Road, 1 North
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
(410) 654-6570
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