Physical activity can positively impact those living in poverty in several ways. Poverty reliably predicts poor health outcomes and is a stronger predictor than smoking or obesity. Physical activity programs can help reduce material deprivation by providing access to recreation services and healthy food. They can also help manage excessive stress through playfulness, friendships, and escape. Building health behaviors is supported through opportunities, choice, mastery, and carry over effects. Relationship building between public recreation and public health is important for sustainability.

1. Movement For Change How Physical Activity can Impact the lives of people living in Poverty MAry Clark, Active Living Coordinator, Vancouver So-Sah-latch Mom’s Walking Group, North Shore

2. What we’ll cover: Our roles What makes us healthy? What can physical activity do to impact people living in poverty? Digital stories Questions?

3. Active Living Coordinators Part of VCH support to“Core Programs” North Shore: Healthy Living and Community Development Vancouver: Healthy Living Program Social Inclusion Framework/Approach: Building relationships Building bridges Building community

4. What makes us Healthy? The choices we make are shaped by the choices we have. “ Unnatural Causes” Action Toolkit Cultural/Behavioural approach vs. Social Determinants approach

5. The health Gradient

6. Poverty and Health Poverty is a more reliable predictor of poor health than smoking, obesity, stress, or high cholesterol Dr. Dennis Raphael Poverty reliably predicts most major chronic diseases , death from injury, use of health services, life expectancy, personal perception of health Dr. Dennis Raphael

7. Understanding Poverty no consensus on how to measure poverty ie. LICO regardless of measurement, BC has a significant poverty problem BC has the highest poverty rate in Canada - 5 years in a row Vancouver Stats: 27% of households North Vancouver Stats: 16% of households Poverty is a situation that makes the achievement of human potential difficult, if not impossible. Dennis Raphael, PhD Dennis Raphael, PhD Dennis Raphael, PhD

8. Why Poverty Impacts Health Material Deprivation Excessive Negative Stress Building of Health Threatening Behaviours Dr. ennis Raphael Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit. Eli Khamarov

10. poverty = social exclusion poverty = social exclusion having and maintaining good health lies in feeling included within society involvement in recreation and physical activity can mitigate some of the effects of poverty

11. Social Inclusion Lens Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael Elements of Exclusion Poverty Disadvantage Inequality Discrimination Barriers to Access Disability Isolation Marginalization Outcomes of Inclusion Improved Health Human rights Adequate Income Access Participation Valued Contributing Belonging Empowerment Valued Recognition Self-Development Social Justice Involved and Engaged Access and Proximity Poor Health Material Deprivation Excessive Negative Stress Unhealthy Behaviours -Necessary Elements of Quality Recreation and Physical Activity-

12. Physical activity has a scientific basis, but it is also an experience that provides a context for self- expression, contentment and a sense of fulfillment at a personal level. It is pointless focussing on one without the other. Dr. George Sheehan Dr. George Sheehan Dr. George Sheehan Dr. George Sheehan Foodbank Drop In Sports Program

13. reducING Material Deprivation Access and inclusion to public/private recreation services Supports for childcare, healthy food Partnership building South Asian women learn to swim at Langara YMCA Queen Mary and Westview Elementary Parent Group

14. managing Excessive Negative Stress Playfulness Friendships Escape Grant McNeil Housing Complex Orchard Park Housing Complex Activity Sampler Program Physical activity that is playful heals the split between body and spirit. Dr. George Sheehan

15. Building of Health Y BehaviouRs Opportunities Choice Self-Exploration Mastery Carry over effects So-Sah-latch Mom’s Group Walk, North Shore So-Sah-latch Mom’s Group Completes the Sun Run

16. Digital Stories Queen Mary and Westview Elementary Parent Group

17. Lessons Learned Sustainability approach Public recreation and public health working together Increasing awareness about poverty, health and recreation/physical activity Time spent on relationship building is money well spent Engagement and community development

18. Social Inclusion Lens Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael Elements of Exclusion Poverty Disadvantage Inequality Discrimination Barriers to Access Disability Isolation Marginalization Outcomes of Inclusion Improved Health Human rights Adequate Income Access Participation Valued Contributing Belonging Empowerment Valued Recognition Self-Development Social Justice Involved and Engaged Access and Proximity Poor Health Material Deprivation Excessive Negative Stress Unhealthy Behaviours -Necessary Elements of Quality Recreation and Physical Activity-

19. Thank You! [email_address] [email_address] a.org