The Active Living by Design national program: community initiatives and lessons learned

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Interventions
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Ecologic frameworks are crucial for comprehensive physical activity interventions.
• Barriers to physical activity include lack of opportunities, social support, policy, built environment, and community awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Active Living by Design (ALbD) community grant program.
• To assess the implementation of the 5P strategies (preparation, promotions, programs, policy, physical projects) by community partnerships.

Main Methods:

• The ALbD program funded 25 communities to establish multidisciplinary partnerships.
• Partnerships implemented the 5P strategies across various settings (neighborhoods, schools, worksites).
• National program office provided technical assistance, learning opportunities, and peer-to-peer learning facilitation.

Main Results:

• Community partnerships successfully created environments supporting active living.
• Collaborative approaches engaged multiple organizations and funders.
• Strong local leadership and peer-to-peer learning were key success factors.

Conclusions:

• The ALbD program demonstrated the value of community-based, ecologic approaches to physical activity.
• The 5P model, though challenging, proved effective for driving community change.
• Sustained success relies on strong local leadership and collaborative efforts.