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Las Cruces Health and Physical Activity Initiative

Dr. Kim Oliver is the PI for the Las Cruces Health and Physical Activity Initiative. This 3-year, $994,129 grant is funded by the Carol M. White Physical Education Program through the Department of Education. A collaboration between New Mexico State University's Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and Las Cruces Public Schools, the aim of the Las Cruces Health and Physical Activity Initiative is to improve elementary school children's health by improving and enhancing physical education in the schools.

All physical educators in the Las Cruces Public Schools are being trained to use the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Physical Education curriculum. The goals of CATCH PE are designed to promote children's enjoyment and participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during PE classes, recess, and extra-curricular activities, and recreation time with family and friends. The primary focus of CATCH PE is for schools to provide quality physical education in which students engage in maximum amounts of enjoyable MVPA during class time.

Key objectives of a CATCH PE class include: 1) Students are involved in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for at least 50% of class time; 2) All students are provided with many opportunities to participate and practice skills; 3) Students enjoy physical activity; and 4) Students are encouraged to be physically active outside of school.

Through this project, Dr. Oliver and colleagues are studying student and teacher outcomes. With students they are looking at students' fitness levels, their attitudes and beliefs about the importance of physical activity, their intentions to be physically active, and their knowledge of nutrition and health. They are also studying teacher self-efficacy and change.

For more information please contact Dr. Oliver at (505) 646-4074 or koliver@nmsu.edu