Project Title:   Spanish People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) Pilot Program

Amount Funded:   $10,000

About the Organization/Coalition:  
The New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation has established a Hispanic Coalition in the Bronx comprised of Spanish-speaking community leaders and representatives from agencies serving Spanish-speaking clients. The goals of the coalition are to increase awareness of arthritis and provide arthritis programs and services to Hispanic communities. The network includes approximately 200 Hispanic community leaders representing a vast array of collaborating agencies, hospitals/health clinics, churches, senior centers, government offices, and other organizations.

Project Objectives:  
Based on the English language program, People With Arthritis Can Exercise, the Spanish program uses gentle activities to help increase joint flexibility and range of motion, and help to maintain muscle strength.

Specific program objectives include:

1. Introduce Spanish PACE to the New York Chapter's existing 200 Bronx community linkages.
2. Establish new partnerships with an additional 20 Bronx community agencies.
3. Train a maximum of 20 new Spanish PACE course instructors.
4. Certify one individual as a master trainer, qualifying him/her to lead future instructor trainings.
5. Conduct four Spanish PACE programs to reach 80-100 older adults in the Bronx and provide participants with materials for an eight-session exercise program.
6. Enable the additional trained instructors to offer Spanish PACE programs at their respective facilities to further reach 320-400 individuals.
7. Evaluate the program through the administration and analysis of pre-and post-course questionnaires and submit health outcomes and satisfaction report.
8. Create, print, and distribute 5,000 Spanish PACE marketing cards.
9. Promote Spanish PACE in the "New York Arthritis Reporter."
10. Maintain contact with community partners to ensure that Spanish PACE programs continue at the end of the grant period.

Progress Report:  
In the fall of 2003, the Arthritis Foundation promoted the Spanish PACE program through these efforts:

• Developed a marketing brochure describing the program and initiated a marketing campaign focused on hospitals, health clinics, senior centers, and other community locations.
• Trained four new Spanish PACE leaders to teach classes at the Bronx YMCA. Classes will be offered at three other community sites in the Bronx.
• Developed and translated an evaluation tool in which all Spanish PACE participants will complete pre- and post-course questionnaires.

Contact Information:  
Teresa Davis, Program Manager
New York Chapter Arthritis Foundation
122 East 42nd St., 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
(212) 984-8711