Free Fitness 4 Washington, PA

By Grant Lowther
July, 7 2016
Liberty University
Health Communication and Advocacy- HLTH 634

Problem/Need Statement

Here in the USA the obesity epidemic and sedentary lifestyle is a public health concern: two
out of every three adults are overweight or obese. Approximately 30% of Washington county
residents are obese.4 Physical Inactivity, lack of access, and complex psychological factors could
be seen as one of the main reasons behind the obesity epidemic. Globally, around 31% of adults
aged 15 and over were insufficiently active in 2008 (men 28% and women 34%).5 In the USA
less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day and more than 80%
of adults do not meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.6
Another issue to consider is that Only about one in five homes have parks within a half-mile,
and about the same number have a fitness or recreation center within that distance. Poverty is
also associated with a greater risk of physical inactivity.1 In Washington, PA 25.1% of the
population for whom poverty status is determined in Washington, PA (12,388 people) live below
the poverty line. This is higher than the national average of 15.5%.4
Our city is at a crossroads. Washington, PA has changed over the years, for the worse, and if
we keep down this path we are on we are headed towards destruction. Our city has a serious
increase in drug use, drug trafficking, and violent crime that shows no signs of slowing down.
One in four of our residents live in poverty and one in three are obese. People who join this
program are not going to be a part of the 95% of Americans who dont exercise enough. An
increase in our communitys physical activity and awareness of their own health is going to
benefit everyone. Living healthy starts with access, our children have access to staying
physically active, but once youre an adult you are on your own. We want to change that.
My plan to help change this socioeconomic disparity in access to working out and getting
free information and advice on their health is to implement: Free Physical Fitness 4 Washington,
PA, a community health program piloting health initiatives for free use of physical activity

equipment and free educational lectures on various health topics, is opening its doors to the
Public on July 18, 2016. This will be a beautiful 1,000 square foot facility located on Chestnut
Street Washington, PA and will provide Treadmills, Ellipticals, Exercise Bikes, Weight Training
Equipment, Scales, and Personal Training services for Washington, Pa adult residents who have
financial and access barriers to staying physically fit through joining a local fitness center.
Admission is Free for those making less than 12,000 dollars a year and for everyone else cost is
only $10 for a single session or $365 for a yearly membership.
The goals of this program are to deliver not only the equipment and the personal support for
improved physical activity but also knowledge on various health topics.
Goal One: To increase the level of Physical Activity of fitness centers members.

Process Objective: To have a fully funded facility equipped with exercise equipment

within one year.

Impactlearning Objective: All Members will learn about how physical Activity benefits

health.
Impactbehavioral Objective: All members are going to meet the weekly recommended
standards of moderate exercise. (150 minutes per week. 3 workouts at 50 minutes or 5

workouts at 30 minutes will be the recommended amount.)

Impactenvironmental Objective: To remove the barrier of having to pay for a gym

membership when the person does not have the money to do so.
Outcome Objective: The overall health of members will improve as measured by weight
status, strength assessments, and prevalence of disease before and after working out for
an extended amount of time (ex; baseline and then at 6 months).

Goal Two: To increase awareness of different health topics through educational lectures.
(Example for this will use a lecture on physical activity and physical literacy)

Process Objective: To achieve full attendance (30+ members in audience) at each lecture

given.
Impactlearning Objective: All audience members will leave with an improved
understanding (could be measured in before and after questionnaires) of how physical
activity effects health and how Physical activity and being aware of your body improves

other areas in quality of life measures.

Impactbehavioral Objective: Audience members will be motivated to start/keep

exercising routinely. (Utilization of follow-up surveys to measure impact.)

Impactenvironmental Objective: For those not living close to the facility the lectures
will give them suggestions on how to exercise at home effectively to achieve weekly

recommend exercise without the use of equipment.

Outcome Objective: 80% of audience will report in three months after lecture that their
overall health improved due to following lecture recommendations.

Primary target audience(s)

The primary target audience will be the impoverished. In the behavioral aspect my target
audience may have the lifestyle characteristics of physical inactivity. While this wouldnt be a
requirement, it would be nice to target those currently who are relatively physically inactive.
In the category of cultural the characteristic that would be present in my target audience
is not certain. Poverty doesnt discriminate on a cultural or ethnic basis, and neither will my
program. In the name of cultural inclusion, it would be beneficial to have a staff with varied
ethnic/racial backgrounds and at least one who speaks Spanish.
In the category of demographic my target audience is the impoverished. Through word of
mouth and other forms of marketing hopefully members will include those impoverished who
are not currently living at the shelter.

In the category of physical my target audience would have to be adults (18+). The
reasons are many and various but children in general (17 and under) already have multiple
opportunities for physical activities throughout the community despite income level. This
program is not targeted for children or those with communicable diseases/ severe disabilities.
The program will help children or people with these conditions find other opportunities available
for physical activities; to my knowledge there are many available especially if the person has
health insurance (including Medicaid).
My target audiences physcographic profile would be varied, it seems somewhat
discriminatory to define this part of my target audience. All walks of life and attitudes will be
accepted. Even though some medical conditions will be an exclusionary factor, I am open to the
idea of expanding the program and qualifications of staff to account for serving these special
populations if success of the program would make this feasible. A Medical Doctor would be the
one setting the guidelines for membership in conjunction with the program.
Primary target key strategies (list for each audience)
The main messege is to improve your life and health with physical activity. Pre-Identified
Barriers are getting them to listen and adhere and funding and getting them there. Benefits could
be multiple, its assured that at least 50 impoverished people will receive personal training and
get free workouts. Hundreds of others could benefit from the program, the impact of these
benefits is uncertain but hypothesized to be extensive. Credentials are based on my own
credentials, the staffs own credentials, and guest lecturers in their area of expertise. The Channel
for health promotion will be brochures, and the website along with actual lectures from myself or
guest lecturers. I would like to design a informational brochure before each seminar and give
before and after questionnaire to audience and some cases follow up surveys.

Secondary target audience

The secondary target audience would be anyone above the poverty level who is looking
to join the fitness center. If capacity concerns allow they may be invited to watch future lectures
for free also. The same benefits could follow except for a price.
Pretest strategy (trial of primary target message/channel)
One the facility is built a lecture on physical activity will be given to small target group
of community members from various social-economic backgrounds and health. Surveys on
qualitative measures and recommendation will be used to identify needs and appropriate
intervention in the eyes of the community. This design of community participatory research will
be used to identify future health topics for lectures as well.
Theoretical foundation
The Socio-ecological model with Social Cognitive theory based research will be used to access
overall impact and what variables lead to improved health status. With more funding, more
faculty could assist in more comprehensive research such as psychological status, personality,
and a more research based program on physical activity and different variables.

Management chart

Task

Time Frame

Responsible Persons

Creation

Full time+

Program Director

Marketing
Administrative/Scheduling
Research
Lecturing

Personal Training
Janitorial
Personal Training

6:00am -12:30(M-F)

Instruction

32.5/ hours per week

Physical Fitness Instructors

Administrative Assistant
Personal Training

12:00-6:30 pm(M-F)

Instruction

32.5/ hours per week

Physical Fitness Instructors

Administrative Assistant
Program Assistance

Varies

Interns/ Guest Lecturers

Budget

Total Wages Paid Per Year

2 Full time instructors
2 intern stipends
2 PRN staff (Approximately)
Director Salary
Total

$57,460
$ 5,000
$ 1,200
$25,000
$89,660

Total Facility Cost

Facility Utilities
Facility Itself

$50,000
$ 7,000

Equipment
Total Facility Cost

$12,000
$69,000

Total Operational Cost for 12 months

$158,660

Equipment/Resources

10 Treadmills
7 Elliptical Machines
3 Aerodyne Bikes
Various Strength Training Equipment (enough to keep about twenty people occupied)
Antiseptic wipes, cleaning supplies
Bathroom supplies
First Aid supplies
Folding Chairs
A Computer w/ Printer
A Projector
Mailing Materials
Stereo
This is justifiably a low total operational cost for the facility; if grant money and

donations allow for it, it could and should increase. I see a grant, donations, and membership
fees covering this cost. Addition of staff and more health research could allow for more grant
money.
Issues of concern/potential problems
Scheduling, will need to be based on capacity, participant needs, and staff availability
conflicts, could result from numerous things but will hopefully be resolved or better yet not
happen. All research participants/fitness center members sign a code of effects and informed
consent.
Evaluation strategies
The keys to evaluating the communication messege and program overall will be
questionnaires (before and after), health assessments on weight, BMI, physical activity level, and

prevalence and incidence of disease for research participants. Each new lecture will follow the
same measurement of before and after questionnaires regarding the various lecture topics and
follow-up surveys.
Website:

grantlowther.weebly.com