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PRESS RELEASE
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
| Friday, April 30, 2004 |
Contact: AoA Press Office
(202) 401-4541 |
April 30, 2004
AoA Announces You Can! Steps to Healthier
Aging Campaign
The Administration on Aging (AoA) announced
its national outreach campaign geared to promoting better nutrition
and physical activity for seniors. The campaign reflects Health
and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson’s commitment
to addressing the serious health consequences for Americans caused
by obesity and chronic disease.
Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary
for Aging, today announced three new components of the YouCan!
- Steps to Healthier Aging campaign. They include, three
national partners, the launch of a Website, and the funding
of 10 mini-grants to implement a nutrition and physical activity
program for older adults at the local level.
The announcement came during Secretary Thompson’s
2nd National Steps to a Healthier U.S. Summit in Baltimore.
YouCan! Steps to Healthier Aging (YouCan!)
campaign is designed to increase the number of older adults who
are active and healthy. YouCan! is the aging component
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Steps
to a HealthierUS initiative, which encourages Americans
of every age to make healthier choices. The Campaign takes direct
aim at the rising epidemic of obesity and chronic disease among
Americans of all ages, including older adults. Improved food
choices and increased physical activity are two healthier lifestyle
choices that help prevent, delay, or manage serious health conditions
such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure,
and some types of cancer. YouCan! uses a partnership
approach to mobilize communities to create public awareness strategies
and make programs available to help older Americans make healthier
lifestyle choices that can keep them healthy, active, and independent
as they age.
“ AoA is pleased to announce its initial YouCan! Federal
partners are: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH)), and the President’s Council
on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS)—all organizations
that share our commitment to the health and well being of older
Americans,” Josefina Carbonell said. “It is our goal
to enlist over 2,000 organizations as YouCan! Partners
by the fall of 2005 to join us in getting the Secretaries message
out to 2 million or more older Americans that encourage healthier
lifestyle choices that can save and improve the quality of many
lives,” she added.
YouCan! unveiled its new Website
today, which provides an array of information, including a campaign
overview, products and services, information about the benefits
of becoming a YouCan! Partner, and resources for further
information. The site can be accessed at www.aoa.gov/youcan.
Additional topics and information will be added to the site over
time.
With funding from AoA, the National Policy & Resource
Center on Nutrition & Aging (Center) at Florida International
University awarded 10 mini-grants of approximately $10,000 each,
to implement a nutrition and walking program entitled Eat Better & Move
More at the local level. These mini-grants are designed to support
AoA’s new YouCan! Campaign. The grants were awarded
to 10 geographically and ethnically diverse Nutrition Programs,
representing small to large organizations in urban, suburban,
and rural communities. Awards begin June 1, 2004 and end February
28, 2005.
Mini-grants awardees are:
- Active Aging, Inc., Meadville, PA
- Alameda County AAA, Oakland, CA
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation Shawnee, OK
- Detroit AAA, Detroit, MI
- East St. Louis Township Senior Citizens Activity Center,
East St. Louis, IL
- Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioner, Tampa,
FL
- Kit Clark Senior Services, Federated Dorchester Neighborhood
Houses, Inc., Dorchester, MA
- Senior Services of Snohomish County, Mukilteo, WA
- Southeastern Wisconsin AAA, Brookfield, WI
- Valley Program for Aging Services, Inc., Waynesboro, VA
“ The announcement of these three important
aspects of YouCan! represents a coordinated approach
to this important national outreach campaign. AoA recognizes
the significant role organizations like these play in helping
mobilize communities to help older Americans improve their nutrition
and increase their physical activity--both of which promote independence
as they age.” said Carbonell.
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| Last Modified: 8/16/2011 12:55:29 PM |
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