The ALProHealth initiative has employed a community-based participatory research approach to maximize the effectiveness of community health assessments and increase the likelihood that interventions will be adopted. Many factors influence participation in physical activity, one of which is the availability of assets for physical activity in the built environment. To address the lack of opportunities for physical activity, community coalitions implemented 101 research-based interventions based on topics discussed in focus groups. In Alabama, the ALProHealth initiative worked with community coalitions to implement research-based interventions in 14 counties with high risk of obesity.
The Recreation Economy Planning Assistance Program for Rural Communities helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. To facilitate conversations about community locations, a large (36×48) aerial image of the community was placed on a wall in the meeting room. Fixed-effect models assume that changes in the availability of recreational facilities within the person are not systematically associated with internal changes in other factors, such as the opening and closing of a fast-food restaurant, that may affect the person's diet. Recognizing this trend, many communities seek to grow their outdoor recreation and tourism economy, invest in their main streets, and conserve forests and other natural lands. Encouraging growth on main streets and existing neighborhoods and, at the same time, promoting outdoor recreation can help encourage community revitalization, protect air and water quality, create jobs, support economic growth and diversification, and provide new opportunities for people to connect to the natural world. During the first 4 years of the ALProHealth initiative, the 14 community coalitions implemented 101 physical activity interventions in 16 communities to address issues discussed in focus groups.
With the right tools and processes, you can effectively engage the community without spending a lot of time on current promotional processes and workflows. To effectively promote recreational activities and facilities in northeastern Mississippi communities, it is important to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Additionally, it is important to employ a community-based participatory research approach to maximize the effectiveness of community health assessments. Furthermore, it is important to implement research-based interventions based on topics discussed in focus groups. Finally, it is important to use strategies such as growing outdoor recreation economy and revitalizing main streets.
