Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is pleased to announce that Fairfax County has been selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to participate as a pilot community implementing the Move Your WaySM campaign. Move Your WaySM is the promotional campaign for the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. It offers tools and resources for consumers and professionals to learn about the Physical Activity Guidelines and share its key messages. Move Your WaySM aims to help people live healthier lives through increased physical activity. In the long term, regular physical activity can help prevent chronic health problems like type 2 diabetes. In the short term, even small increases in physical activity can boost mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), part of HHS, developed the Move Your WaySM campaign to help people understand how much physical activity they need to be healthy and how to fit the recommended amount into their daily lives. The Move Your WaySM campaign was initially piloted in two communities in 2019. Fairfax County is one of the eight additional communities participating in a 6-month pilot program to implement Move Your WaySM at the local level in 2020.
“We are dedicated to leading America to healthier lives by championing programs and policies that emphasize disease prevention and maintenance of good health. The eight pilot communities selected to implement the Move Your Way campaign this year have a vital role in increasing the awareness of the profound health benefits of physical activity,” explains ADM Brett Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “We’re learning from these communities; and their participation and pioneering efforts will set an example for all communities throughout America on how to encourage everyone to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines.”
Fairfax County Park Authority is working with the community and other Fairfax County agencies to get the message out about Move Your WaySM and assist with the efforts to get our citizens moving. A walking program, beginning in June 2020, will be the cornerstone of the implementation efforts in our communities. The walking program will take place across the county and will be especially targeted at areas with the greatest need for physical activity. “Getting folks outside and moving on a consistent basis is our main goal,” says Elizabeth Ittner, the Wellness Coordinator for the Park Authority. “We hope to really get into the communities that struggle with chronic health conditions – conditions that can be combatted with physical activity – and encourage them to take small steps, literally. We are excited to work with our community partners to make this happen.”
To kick off the Move Your WaySM campaign, Park Authority RECenters will be hosting Move Your WaySM Day at eight locations on Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Admission to the RECenter during this time will be free, and participants can experience a variety of classes and activities offered at the RECenter.
For the Move Your WaySM Day RECenter schedules and more information on the campaign, visit Healthy Strides or find us on Facebook.
About Fairfax County Park Authority
FCPA oversees operation and management of the County park system with 23,584 acres, 427 parks, nine recenters, eight golf courses, an ice skating rink, 209 playgrounds, 668 garden plots, five nature centers, three equestrian facilities, hundreds of athletic fields, two waterparks, historic sites, a horticultural center and more than 334 miles of trails. Our mission is enrichment of the quality of life for all members of the community through an enduring park system that provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences and promotes healthy lifestyles.
Move Your Way is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. Participation by Fairfax County Park Authority does not imply endorsement by HHS/ODPHP.
About the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) plays a vital role in keeping the Nation healthy. ODPHP accomplishes this by setting national health goals and objectives and supporting programs, services, and education activities that improve the health of all Americans. ODPHP part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more about ODPHP visit health.gov.
