Blueprint Local Community Mini-Grants

Abstract

The National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 50 and Older serves as a guide for multiple organizations, associations and agencies to inform and support their planning work related to increasing physical activity among America's aging population. A key priority of the Blueprint projects is to foster local partnerships among community organizations and private sector agencies in the areas of health, environment, transportation, and social services. PURPOSE The Blueprint Minigrant program is designed to build capacity within local communities in support of creative and sustainable programs and initiatives that will have a significant impact on physical activity participation in the 50+ population. METHODS More than 460 applicants from local organizations across the U.S. submitted proposals that were reviewed by experts in aging and health-related fields. Many of the funded programs provided targeted interventions for specific segments of the older adult population, such as minorities, low-income adults, or the frail elderly. Other programs provided an intergenerational component or creative incentives to motivate midlife and older adults to increase their physical activity RESULTS: Funded programs were characterized by innovative partnerships among diverse community groups that maximized resources and promoted sustainability. Examples will be provided of successful minigrant coalitions that were able to raise physical activity levels and increase access to community-based physical activity programs. CONCLUSIONS The Mini-Grant Program can serve as a “best practices” model for similar coalitions in other communities nationwide to promote physical activity in the 50+ population. Supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.