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Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Promote Public Health and Recreation
In
an unprecedented move, eleven federal programs joined forces, establishing
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Promote Public Health and
Recreation.
(PDF-
120K)
As part of the unveiling of President Bush's Healthier U.S. initiative,
Secretaries representing the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and the Department
of the Army pledge to promote uses and benefits of the nation's public
lands and water resources to enhance the physical and psychological health
and well being of the American people.
These agencies recognize that developing, using, and promoting resources such as trail systems will increase access to physical activity opportunities for our communities and provide an opportunity to integrate messages of physical activity and well being. Enjoying outdoor recreation, within neighborhoods and communities, is being recognized as an important means to help address serious health concerns such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
Using systematic reviews of published studies, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services strongly recommended creating access to trails and other places for physical activity. Communication strategies and outreach activities that promote using trails and facilities are also recommended. Commensurate with this recommendation, a significant component of the new partnership to promote public health and recreation is to increase awareness of the many recreational opportunities that exist in the United States.
Although the nation has a recreational infrastructure, many individuals have limited access to programs and opportunities. This unique collaboration between the four diverse federal agencies will provide a foundation to help expand recreational opportunities for the community.
Working Together
Following the call from Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson for "communities and businesses to work together and create innovative ways to encourage greater physical activity," this partnership creates a unique alliance between
- Department of Agriculture: Forest Service; Center for Nutrition
Policy and Promotion
- Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Land
Management; Bureau of Reclamation; Fish and Wildlife Services;
National Parks Service
- Department of the Army: Army Corps of Engineers
- Department of Health and Human Services; Office of Public Health and Science; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Indian Health Service
Within the MOU collaborative activities are identified to promote public health and recreation; such as,
- Reviewing the condition and design of recreational facilities to
ensure the public's active use
- Providing information on the many places where natural environments
and recreation opportunities exist
- Developing new and strengthening existing coalitions at community,
state, regional, and national levels
- Working with the US Department of Transportation to encourage using
its' funding program to support projects that promote recreation and
physical activity
- Using the cooperative agencies' research and social science
capabilities to increase physical activity
- Developing joint products and programs that foster public awareness and behavioral changes to increase physical activity
Contact
To find out more about this partnership and how you may be involved contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion,
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity,
4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS/K-24
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
Phone: 800-232-4636 (800-CDC-INFO)
Fax: (770) 488-5473
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
