NRPA—HHS Strategic Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding

Between

National Recreation and Park Association

and

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
  Office of Public Health and Science
   
• President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
  Office of Public Health and Science
   
• Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity,
  National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,
  National Institutes of Health
   
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
  National Institutes of Health

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets forth the terms and understanding between: the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA); the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Office of Public Health and Science; the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS), Office of Public Health and Science; the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI); and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) regarding activities related to Healthy People 2010 and the Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) for 1) physical activity and 2) overweight and obesity.

BACKGROUND

The NRPA, ODPHP, PCPFS, NCCDPHP, NHLBI, and NIDDK share common priorities and interests in Healthy People 2010,including, but not limited to, the LHI for 1) physical activity and 2) obesity and overweight.  Each organization has unique competencies through which it addresses these  goals.  These organizations realize that by forming a strategic partnership they can avoid duplication of efforts at the national, state, and local levels, as well as capitalize on the individual strengths of each organization to achieve the targets of Healthy People 2010.

PURPOSE

This MOU will maximize investments to increase physical activity and reduce physical inactivity by means of this strategic partnership.  It establishes a mechanism whereby all parties can work together to achieve improved communication, coordination, and collaboration.  The purpose of this strategic partnership is to catalyze progress toward the goals and targets set forth in Healthy People 2010 with particular emphasis on the areas of physical activity, obesity and overweight, and to improve the health of our communities, our children, our seniors, our families, and our nation by means of programs, products, and services that aim to do the following:

1.  Prevent chronic disease risk factors associated with physical inactivity and obesity;

2.  Achieve a reduction of environmental barriers to physical activity at the community level nationwide, including barriers for the disabled;

3.  Achieve a reduction of environmental barriers to physical activity for disabled persons;

4.  Enhance access and opportunities for increased physical activity, including but not limited to improvements to existing infrastructure;

5.  Achieve increased levels of physical activity among youth and adults;

6.  Reduce the levels of obesity among youth and adults; and

7.  Reduce injuries associated with physical activity.

These goals will be accomplished through partnership in the following:

1.  Population and community-based health education and health promotion activities;

2.  Coordination of public awareness and media activities that include the LHIs and that address the imperative of increasing physical activity, promoting healthy behaviors, and increasing quality and years of healthy living;

3.  Joint efforts to promote professional education and training, dissemination of best practices, and joint efforts to mobilize communities around the Healthy People 2010 objectives and the LHIs;

4.  Activities designed to reach the community level, including but not limited to encouraging partnership among the following: the NRPA’s state affiliates and local-level members; the Centers for Disease Control's state network of state, regional, county, and city health departments; and the PCPFS’ national, state and local networks;

5.  Activities and surveillance to effect environmental, policy, and system changes;

6.  Activities that utilize technology to increase awareness of the local access and opportunities for physical activity;

7.  Courtesy exhibit booth space for partnership organizations at annual meetings;

8.  Activities that augment data collection efforts;

9.  Increased collegiality, recognition, support, and resource sharing; and

10.  Strategic leveraging of resources among organizations; and

11.  Inclusion of minority, limited English proficient, and disabled populations in the implementation of each of the goals of the partnership.

MEETINGS AND REPORTING

To accomplish these objectives, there will be regular quarterly meetings among the partners. The NRPA Executive Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Disease Prevention and Health Promotion), PCPFS Executive Director, NCCDPHP Director, NHLBI Director, and NIDDK Director jointly will evaluate and report on the effectiveness and the outcomes of this relationship on the anniversary of the MOU signing.  This activity will be based upon mutually agreed on criteria in order to establish the future direction of the partnership.

FUNDING

Nothing in this MOU shall be deemed to be a commitment or obligation of Federal or NRPA funds.

DURATION

This MOU is at-will and may be modified by mutual consent of authorized officials from the NRPA and Federal Government.  This MOU shall become effective for one year upon the signature by authorized officials from the NRPA and Federal Government.  This MOU will remain in effect until modified or terminated by any authorized official from NRPA and/or the Federal Government, by mutual consent of authorized officials from the NRPA and the Federal Government to continue further this strategic partnership, or upon 60-days prior written notice.  In the absence of a mutual agreement by authorized officials from the NRPA and the U.S. Government to continue further this strategic partnership, this MOU shall end on June 30, 2003.

[SIGNED  February 26, 2002]

Marvin F. Billups
President
National Recreation and Park Association

Eve E. Slater, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Assistant Secretary for Health
Office of the Secretary

Woodie Kessel, M.D., M.P.H.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health
(Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Lisa E. Oliphant 
Executive Director
President’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports

James S. Marks, M.D., M.P.H.
Director and Assistant Surgeon General
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Claude Lenfant, M.D. 
Director
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,
National Institutes of Health

Allen M. Spiegel, M.D.
Director
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases,
National Institutes of Health
 

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