Active Families

The Active Families programme offers support, education and encouragement to families wishing to make long term, healthy changes to their lifestyle.

Although referrals to the programme are for inactive and/or overweight children (5-18 years), the focus is on a family approach and everyone within the family will benefit.

Children can be referred to the Active Families program by a health professional, family member or school contact who feels that the child’s health would benefit from more physical activity in a family setting.

The programme has been developed to address the issues of childhood obesity and other health problems which would benefit from physical activity through realistic goal setting, ongoing support, encouragement and education.

Active Families is a free year long personalised program for 5-18 yr olds. Monthly visits are held with the family.

This programme enables children to choose and enjoy physical activity. It introduces the child and family to appropriate, affordable and sustainable activities.

Family Focus

The focus of Active Families is to help children, young people and their families lead more active lifestyles. Support of family members and/or friends is crucial to the success of this programme - especially for younger children who rely on family to provide physical activity opportunities. Families are encouraged to be actively involved and support their children to lead a healthy active lifestyle.

Process

Visits are held either at the Marlborough PHO office or the family's home. The initial visit is about relationship building, establishing that the family really wants to make some positive changes and discussing current activities the family is involved in.

Opportunities to increase physical activity at home or in the community are reviewed e.g. sport, active transport, playing with friends, being active at home and school.

Visits

The Active Families Co-ordinator monitors the child or young person's progress, offering continued support and additional physical activity ideas.

The End Result...

The child or young person can independently sustain their increased physical activity level.

Active Families Referral Form - (PDF)