The Collaborative is focused on identifying and securing national level resources that will support its mission of equitable access to high quality programs. In late 2019 the Collaborative led a team that secured a federal grant from the Dept. of Health & Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to fund evidence-based methods meant to engage racial/ethnic minorities and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged 6th-8th graders in sports and fitness programs, particularly those who reside in communities where no or few youth sports programs exist.
To increase participation in sport sampling and nutritional education to students in 6 middle schools in North and West Philadelphia for over 200 youth. The YES Initiative studies the impacts of various methods of program delivery, measures participation and trends in nutritional habits, and intends to identify characteristics of effective collaborations that improve physical activity and nutrition through increased participation in sports.
In-person programming that was impacted by Covid-19 was quickly adjusted to a virtual summer camp with the study participants, and a full virtual program in the 2020-21 school year keeping over 200 participants engaged with daily online “practice”. Sports equipment, food, and “swag” has been regularly distributed to participants for a year.