Sport Taranaki, in partnership with Pinnacle Taranaki PHO, implemented the Active Families programme in April 2007 and will focus on creating positive lifestyle changes and improving overall health and wellbeing of targeted Taranaki families.

 Background

Active Families is a SPARC initiated programme aimed at supporting, educating and encouraging families to set goals for lifestyle changes and physical activity levels in children and young families.

SPARC developed the Active Families programme in 2004 to address childhood obesity, weight issues and other health problems.  They believed that physical activity through realistic goal setting, ongoing support, encouragement and education would address these issues. This programme has been implemented successfully at other Regional Sports Trusts such as Sport Gisborne-Tairawhiti, Harbour Sport, Sport Waikato and Sport Canterbury.

How does Active Families Work?

The Active Families programme introduces the family to appropriate, affordable and sustainable physical activity options and gives them the opportunity to interact with other children and families in similar circumstances. 

This will be achieved by following either of the following processes:

1. Self Referral

• Downloade the Self Referral Form from Page Links and send the form in to Sport Taranaki's Active Familied Advisor.
• The Active Families Advisor will be in contact with you to advise what happens next.

2. Medical Referral

• Sport Taranaki will receive a referral by a Paediatrician, GP, Practice Nurse, Maori Community Nurse, School Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Dietician.  This form can be printed off from this page and must have a medical professionals signature on it.
• The Active Families Advisor will then make contact by phone with the family and arrange an appropraite time to meet with the family.
• During the first meeting, the "Active Families Programme Agreement" is explained to the child and family and then signed. 
• Monthly contact will then be provided by the Active Families Advisor and discussions will be held on barriers to physical activity and how to overcome them, setting goals, explaining programme options, links to other groups and programmes, educating about healthy lifestyles and being more active, more often and building confidence.
• The family will be part of the programme for 12 months with reviews undertaken on a quarterly basis. 
• Three months after the family have left the programme, follow up contact will be made to determine if the changes made have been successfully maintained.

For further information regarding the Active Families programme please contact: