Club Possible: Feasibility of a Community Collaborative After-school Physical Activity Program for Children Ages 5-12 Years

Abstract

The social, mental, and physical benefits of regular physical activity (PA) for all people, including children, is well documented. However, for a variety of reasons, children are simply not active enough. Therefore, programs and interventions designed to increase the PA levels of children are warranted. Specifically advocated are collaborative efforts between community organizations and educational institutions such as universities and schools. One area that has received little attention in the literature is the after-school setting. This setting is particularly attractive because it offers 1) structured environments to teach healthy lifestyle habits, 2) an opportune time for movement (time for PA is limited during the school day), and 3) a safe environment for PA. Although these settings offer great potential, little is known about the feasibility of implementing a PA program in existing after- school settings. In addition, no studies have examined the feasibility of implementing a PA program across a variety of after-school agencies. Issues such as development of common goals and outcomes, staff training and program expectations, and how to overcome barriers that are associated with implementing PA programs in a variety of after school settings, must be addressed to maximize program and resource effectiveness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of using a collaborative to implement an after-school PA program across multiple sites. This paper focuses on the first year of Club Possible (CP), its inception, implementation, initial evaluation, and plans for the future. Initial findings suggest CP is feasible and holds promise for increasing the PA levels of children. The program provides a means through which other community collaboratives can work together with a common goal to make changes in afterschool settings within their communities. Club Possible is an innovative program because it is designed to change the culture of after-school programs through three main concepts: PA, nutrition education, and family involvement. Club Possible may be a feasible way to improve PA participation for children and their families in various after-school settings and programs.