ActiveWV 2030: WV’s Adoption of the US National Physical Activity Plan Framework for Statewide Impact

Background: The US National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) was first released in 2010 to provide actionable direction toward meeting the Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines for Americans and further facilitate PA for all. The evidence-informed strategies and tactics informed eight societal sectors on promoting PA throughout the population. A priority of the NPAP is to stimulate states to develop relevant state-level plans that consider contextual variables, including cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, with input from stakeholders that represent all population sectors. To date, there are only two state plans modeled after the NPAP – Texas and West Virginia (WV).
Program Delivery or Policy Components: The WV Physical Activity Plan (WVPAP) has first released in 2012, and most recently in May, 2024. The development teams comprised of over 100 stakeholders across all 10 societal sectors have successfully generated a guide to encourage all sectors to accept their role in promoting PA, and in facilitating sustainable changes in policy and practice that will allow all people to have opportunities to be PA. The WVPAP also focuses on multi-sector collaboration that can provide support for PA regardless of inequalities.
Evaluation. Tracking dissemination and implementation is critical to assessing the Plan. Online surveys, statewide symposiums, and state health data have also provided assessment data. It is critical to have continuous communication and support between the WVPAP team and the cross-sector partners to evaluate the Plan.
Conclusions: Partnerships are critical to the development, dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of the WVPAP. Partnerships at the local levels also consider the local contexts.
Practical implications: The WVPAP gives our state decision-makers, leaders, and practitioners the guide they need to make PA a priority locally, and state-wide. The WVPAP is also well-positioned to serve as a model for other states and regions using the NPAP framework.
Funding: WVBPH, NACDD