DOH Seeks Local Partners for the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management Program
The Department of Health (DOH) recently received a five-year grant from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as a part of the “State Public Health Approaches to Addressing Arthritis” cooperative agreement and developed the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management (WHAAM) project. The goal of the WHAAM Project is to increase physical activity among people with arthritis as a way of reducing and managing pain, with a focus on non-metropolitan and Native American communities.
This goal will be accomplished by:
- Increasing opportunities for physical activity for people living with arthritis pain
- Improving healthcare providers’ ability to refer arthritis patients to community programs
As part of the effort to accomplish the first part of this strategy, the DOH is working to expand access to two arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions that increase physical activity and promote walking.
The Department of Health is actively recruiting local partners to implement one or both of these programs:
Walk With Ease is a program developed by the Arthritis Foundation that is shown to reduce the pain of arthritis and improve overall health. Walk With Ease is also one of three programs eligible for the National Recreation and Park Association's “Instructor Training Grants for Physical Activity Programs” application. Project partner, Feet First, is offering technical assistance for starting group-led programs in local communities. Priority will be given to organizations with the ability to eventually offer more than one class at a time.
For more information, contact Rachel Schaeffer at [email protected].
Email Rachel Schaeffer
EnhanceFitness is a program owned and managed by Sound Generations in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente of Washington and the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center. This program has a strong presence in the Puget Sound region, and the Department of Health is working to make it more available statewide. Project partner, Sound Generations, is offering technical assistance, training, and initial licensing costs support for starting a program in organizations serving older adults. Priority will be given to organizations with the ability to eventually offer more than one class at a time.
For more information, contact Paige Denison at [email protected].