active for life 101

Active For Life 101

What is Active For Life?

• Flexible, 10-week team-based worksite physical activity program

• Team-based approach, with ability to set individual goals

• Receive a point for each minute of physical activity – counts toward individual and team goals

• Participants, Team Captains, and Directors provide encouragement to succeed

• Based on the Stages of Change Theory and the American Cancer Society (ACS) Guidelines for Physical Activity

Evidence Base• Five stages of change:

1. Precontemplation - No physical activity2. Contemplation - Not active, but intends to start in a few months3. Preparation - Participate in some physical activity, but not regularly4. Action - Have been active regularly for less than six months5. Maintenance - Regularly active for more than six months

• Individual Goal Setting, Social Support, Tracking/Journaling

• ACS Recommendations for Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention• Adults: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical

activity, above usual activities, on 5 or more days of the week; 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity are preferable.

• Children and adolescents: Engage in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 5 days per week.

• Moderate activity is anything that makes you breathe as hard as you do during a brisk walk. During moderate activity, you will notice a slight increase in your heart rate and breathing, but you probably won’t break a sweat.

• Vigorous activity is performed at a higher intensity. These activities produce an increased heart rate, sweating, and breathing rate.

AFL Structure with Exec DirectorExecutive Director

Program Director Program Director

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Participant

Participant

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Executive Director Role• Highest role in the Active for Life (AFL)

program• Suggested for companies running

multiple AFL campaigns with multiple Program Directors (PD) (i.e., an organization composed of a corporate office and two satellite offices, the organization will need an ED to oversee the AFL campaign and PDs to implement the campaign at each satellite office)

Executive Director Responsibilities

• Invite Program Directors • Work with Program Directors to

coordinate your company’s overall AFL program

• Determine incentives and activities• Access reports for all campaigns• Provide program analysis• Wellness Planning Committee

AFL Structure with a Program Director

Program Director

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Team Captain

Participant

Participant

Participant

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Program Director Role

• Manages a single AFL campaign• May be the highest role in the AFL

campaign if Executive Director level is not needed

• Works closely with Executive Director if applicable

• If no ED, PD determines campaign dates, bonus points, incentives and activities

Program Director Responsibilities

• Determine logistics of campaign• Communicates with management • Selects and invites Team Captains• Creates program news• Monitors team reports• Distributes incentives and plans activities• Chair the campaign’s Wellness Planning

Committee

Team Captain Role & Responsibilities

• Provides program information and support directly to the program participants

• Essential part of keeping the Participants motivated

• Selects the team name and team logo (logo is optional)

• Invites the employees to participate on their team

• Monitors team and Participant reports

Participant Role & Responsibilities

• Participates in the activities• Encourages other participants• Enjoys the benefits of using the AFL

program• Commits to being physically active• Logs their points and keeps their activity

log up-to-date

Role RecapExecutive Director:• Highest role in AFL program• Suggested for companies with multiple worksites

• Invite Program Directors• Develop Reports• Provide Program Analysis

Program Director:• Manage AFL Campaign within worksites

• Selects campaign logistics• Selects/Invites Team Captains• Creates program news• Monitors team reports

Team Captain:• Provide program information and support to participants

• Selects team name and logo (optional)•Invites employees to participate on their team•Monitors team and participant reports

Participant:• Participates in the activities

Active For Life Support Tools• AFL Best Practices

• A document that shares ideas and suggestions from other companies or organizations who have implemented Active For Life in their environment

• Training presentations available for each role within Active For Life

• Campaign Tips within the AFL site• Section of the site that houses role specific tips and

resources

• Active For Life Help section• Details step by step directions by role to assist in navigating

the AFL site

• ACS Relationship Manager Support

Home Pagewww.activeforlife.org

Participant Dashboard

Optional Nutrition and Weight Tools

For more information about Active For Life,

contact your ACS Relationship Manager Or

activeforlife@cancer.org

©2010 American Cancer Society, Inc. No.0052.21