Welcome to the Programs Pillar! We’ve enhanced the user experience by providing an interactive video and workbook that takes you through this pillar so that you can feel equipped and confident to take action in building healthy places in your community. Remember – This is a ‘choose your own’ adventure so you can choose which tools to use in this journey.
Programming is a valuable way to bridge gaps between our diverse populations through play. The recreation sector often serves as the foundation for most community programming; and, as such, is an essential service.
- Interactive Video
- PDF Workbook
- Read on the Web
The Role of Programs in Recreation
Community programming is a crucial way that recreation supports community wellbeing. Recreational programming is especially important as it reaches entire communities using our facilities and parks as hubs and gathering points. Programming is a valuable way to bridge gaps between our diverse populations through play. The recreation sector often serves as the foundation for most community programming; and, as such, is an essential service.
As a sector, we must continually grow, evolve, and provide high-quality programming that meets our communities’ needs and strengths. Through sharing promising practices, research, and community stories, the Programs Pillar aims to provide recreation sector staff, community volunteers, and local champions with the resources and guidance to lead our communities in health and wellness.
Creating Healthy Programs
Healthy programs are initiatives that advance healthy eating and active living by enabling all Albertans to eat well and be physically active. Ultimately, healthy programs help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
There are strong links between healthy eating and active living (HEAL) and community health. Together, healthy eating and active living support community health by(1,2):
- Increasing feelings of social inclusion
- Reducing the risk of chronic diseases
- Improving mental health
However, despite these health benefits:
- 12% of adults were sedentary for more than 8 hours per day(3)
- Less than 1 in 5 children and youth met Canada’s national guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and sleep(4)
- More than 50% of Canadians 12 or older did not meet the recommended fruit and vegetable intake(5)
- As of 2021, only 55.9% of people felt like they made most meals themselves(6)
Given this the current status of HEAL in Canada and Alberta, community programming focused on HEAL activities is increasingly important because it:
- Provides opportunities for community participation in HEAL
- Builds knowledge, literacy, and skills around HEAL behaviours and activities
- Supports life-long participation in HEAL
- Supports and provides opportunities for equity, inclusion and diversity initiatives
Tips for Creating Inclusive Healthy Programs
When creating healthy community programs, we must focus on ensuring that all People have equitable access and opportunities to participate. Use these tips to help build healthy programs that everyone can enjoy!
Consider who can currently access programs and who is missing. Create programs that:
- Have a sliding scale, or are low to no cost
- Provide free or low-cost rentable equipment (i.e. free snowshoes for the public to rent)
- All recreation and sports abilities ( i.e. introductory to master ability sports programs)
- Consider the needs of child care or family meal times
- Include a variety of program options, consider incorporating culturally relevant activities and opportunities
- Implement community engagement and feedback strategies that allow for a diversity of thoughts and opinions
Create programs that provide opportunities for every person in your community to participate.
- Take special care to provide programs for all ages, genders, and abilities (both physical and mental),
- Create programs that foster women and young children-only spaces (i.e. women’s only swim time in the morning).
- Create culturally appropriate programming, (i.e. hunting programs for Indigenous communities).
Key Considerations
HEAL knowledge, literacy and skills: The impact on life-long health behaviours – Knowledge, literacy and skills are crucial to the prioritization and long-term participation of children and youth in HEAL activities(7-9). Having HEAL literacy increases confidence and competence. It also motivates individuals to prioritize and sustain meaningful participation in active living and healthy eating behaviours(7-10). Research shows that community programming can be an effective tool to build and establish HEAL literacy from a young age(8-10).
Successful HEAL Programming
Creating a successful program isn’t just luck. Incorporating key elements and following critical steps can help ensure that your next program:
- Is relevant and sustainable
- Reaches your audience
- Accomplishes your goals
Elements of a Successful Program
Regardless of the size, scope, or goal, successful and high-quality or evidenced-based community programs and programmers have a lot to consider(11, 12). However, the most fundamental factor that makes a healthy program successful and impactful is incorporating BOTH active living and healthy eating components. Communities that provide programming that supports active living and healthy eating create multiple avenues for citizens to participate in overall health and wellness behaviours.
When thinking about the elements that make a program successful, ask the following questions:
- How will the program be sustainable long-term?
- How will the program be culturally relevant and appropriate?
- How will the program build on equity, diversity, and inclusion principles?
- How will the program work towards the community’s larger vision of health and wellness?
- How will the program be initiated, developed, implemented, and supported by their community members or target population?
- How will promising practices or best practices inform the program?
- How will the program respect the communities autonomy, dignity and self-determination?
- How does the program acknowledge the complexities and environmental factors that contribute to a person’s lived experience?
- Does the program incorporate collaboration across organizations, sectors and communities to make large-scale change?
- Is the program grounded in a strength-based approach?
Strengths-based programming seeks to build on existing assets, strengths and resources within a community to solve challenges or address needs. Using a strengths-based approach establishes community members, organizations and partnerships as the solutions and encourages empowerment, self-determination and autonomy.
4 Stages to Developing a Successful Program
Click through the stages below and use them to build the elements of success into your program(13):
Continue Exploring Programs
4 Stages to Creating Successful Programs
4 Stages to Developing Successful Programs
4 Stages to Developing Successful Programs
4 Stages to Creating Successful Programs
Healthy Eating Programs
Healthy Eating Programs
Healthy Eating Programs
Healthy Eating Programs
Active Living Programs
Active Living Programs
Active Living Programs
Active Living Programs
Indigenous Voices in Programs
Indigenous Voices in Programs
Indigenous Voices in Programs
Indigenous Voices in Programs
- Alberta Health Services [Internet]. Eat Healthy; 2018c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.healthiertogether.ca/living-healthy/eat-healthy/
- Alberta Health Services [Internet]. Be Active; 2018c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.healthiertogether.ca/living-healthy/be-active/
- ParticipACTION [Internt]. 2021 Adult Report Card; moving toward a better normal; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.participaction.com/the-science/2021-adult-report-card/#/?playlistId=0&videoId=0
- ParticipACTION [Internet]. 2020 Children and Youth Report Card; Family Influence; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.participaction.com/the-science/2020-child-and-youth-report-card/
- Stats Canada [Internet]. Trends and correlates of frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, 2007 to 2014; January 17, 2018 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2018001/article/54901-eng.htm
- Charlebois, S., Music, J., and Faires, S. The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Food Literacy: Results of a Cross-National Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 October 22]. 18(10): 5485. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8161372/#:~:text=A%20total%20of%2055.9%25%20of,figure%20was%20lower%20than%20expected.
- Sport for Life [Internet]. Physical literacy; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from:https://sportforlife.ca/physical-literacy/
- Kulik, N., Moore, W., Centeio, E., Garn, A., Martin, J., Shen, B., Somers,C., and McCaughtry, N.Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Healthy Eating Behavior Among Children: Results From the Building Healthy Communities Trial. Health Education and Behavior. [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2022 October 22]. 46(4). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/109019811982629
- Poelman, M.P., Dijkstra, S.C., Sponselee, H. et al. Towards the measurement of food literacy with respect to healthy eating: the development and validation of the self perceived food literacy scale among an adult sample in the Netherlands.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2022 October 22]. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 15, 54. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0687-z
- Rudd JR, Pesce C, Strafford BW, Davids K. Physical Literacy – A Journey of Individual Enrichment: An Ecological Dynamics Rationale for Enhancing Performance and Physical Activity in All. Front Psychol. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2022 October 22]. 28;11:1904. Available from: doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01904
- Government of Canada. Planning for Success- a guide to planning your community-based project [report on internet]. Ottawa. The government; 2021 [cited 2022 September 29]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/atlantic-canada-opportunities/services/planning-for-success-community-project.html
- Alberta Health Services. Engaging Individuals and Families to Choose Interventions [report on internet]. Alberta. The Service; 2020 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/amh/if-amh-ecc-engaging-indivs-and-families-to-choose-interv.pdf
- Community ToolBox. A Model for Getting Started; How do we begin taking action in the community. [internet]. The University of Kansas. C2022 [cited 2022 September 30]. Available from: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/get-started
