Movement For ChangeMovement For ChangeHow Physical Activity can Impact the lives of people living

in Poverty

MAry Clark, Active Living Coordinator, VancouverSo-Sah-latch Mom’s Walking Group,

North Shore

What we’ll cover:• Our roles

• What makes us healthy?

• What can physical activity do to impact people living in poverty?

• Digital stories

• Questions?

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

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

The health Gradient

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

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

Why Poverty Impacts Health

• Material Deprivation

• Excessive Negative Stress

• Building of Health Threatening Behaviours Dr.

ennis Raphael

QuickTime™ and aPhoto - JPEG decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aPhoto - JPEG decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit. Eli Khamarov

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

Social Inclusion Lens Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael

Elements of ExclusionPoverty

DisadvantageInequality

DiscriminationBarriers to Access

DisabilityIsolation

Marginalization

Outcomes of Inclusion

Improved HealthHuman rights

Adequate IncomeAccess

ParticipationValued

ContributingBelonging

Empowerment

Valued Recognition

Self-DevelopmentSocial Justice

Involved and Engaged

Access and Proximity

Poor Health

Material Deprivation

Excessive Negative Stress

Unhealthy Behaviours

-Necessary Elements of Quality

Recreation and Physical Activity-

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

Foodbank Drop In Sports Program

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

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

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

Digital Stories

Queen Mary and Westview Elementary Parent Group

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

Social Inclusion Lens Adapted from Health Canada, the Laidlaw Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Raphael

Elements of ExclusionPoverty

DisadvantageInequality

DiscriminationBarriers to Access

DisabilityIsolation

Marginalization

Outcomes of Inclusion

Improved HealthHuman rights

Adequate IncomeAccess

ParticipationValued

ContributingBelonging

Empowerment

Valued Recognition

Self-DevelopmentSocial Justice

Involved and Engaged

Access and Proximity

Poor Health

Material Deprivation

Excessive Negative Stress

Unhealthy Behaviours

-Necessary Elements of Quality

Recreation and Physical Activity-

Thank You!

Mary.Clark@vch.ca

Mary.Clark@vanymca.org