The InShape Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) Program

What type of health/wellness interaction activities would marginalize Philadelphia male youth gratitude towards to positively increase their overall development?  Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention show that Philadelphia male youth are at risk for a multitude of behaviors that are harmful to their health and well-being.  These include various self-coping misuses and other illicit drug use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, lack of sleep and uncontrolled stress. Together, multiple risk habits interact to compound the pain, suffering and sadness youth and their families experience by increasing the likelihood of injury, illness, and personal and social problems, while hindering positive development of youth.  According to the Urban Institute, the Philadelphia metropolitan area has a total higher teen dropout, food insecurity and unemployment rate (34.1 percent) than New Orleans (27.9 percent) or St. Louis (21.9 percent), and the New Orleans metropolitan area has a higher youth disconnection rate (14.1 percent) than the Philadelphia (10.0 percent) or St. Louis (9.3 percent) areas. 

Solving the national epidemic of multiple substance use and other health risks among youth requires using evidence-based programs that integrate alcohol and drug use prevention with wellness promotion.  The Philadelphia Youth Football Academy InShape Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) program will provide evidence-based interventions that address substance use and chronic disease risk behaviors in a single intervention and setting, to cost-effectively improve the “whole health” of participating youth. Our program will be an evidence-informed interventions that addresses substance use and chronic that address substance abuse and chronic disease risk behaviors in a single intervention and setting, to cost-effectively improve the “whole health” of participating youth. Our program is designed to enhance the positive development of youth by teaching them to connect avoiding substance use with increasing wellness behaviors and desired future images.  These include participating in sports (flag football being KEY) and physical activities, eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep and controlling stress.  Our InShape Prevention Plus Wellness is a practical, single-session evidence-based screening and brief intervention designed to save organizations’ time and money. This program is uniquely customized to the current health habits of each participating youth. This program will be rigorously evaluated in controlled evaluation trials and shown to prevent and reduce alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, while increasing healthy habits such as physical activity which are necessary for promoting and protecting the overall health and well-being of young people.    

Our target work demographic is an area in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This area demographics: Black, 82.6%, White, 12.6%, Asian, 1.08% and Latino 13.8%.  The youth of this area have long been identified as an underserved that is isolated from many beneficial services and amenities. Our partner site is Mastery Charter Pickett Campus; a charter school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is part of Philadelphia City School District. It serves 2552 students in 6 - 12. Pickett student demographics include: 92% of its student body are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian. And 95% of their students receive free or reduced priced lunch. 

Through exercises and positive reinforcement, our youth learn to push themselves and work as a team.  Our belief is that by providing a highly structured prevention program, we can help youth reach their full potential, leading full, healthy lives.  Our fitness and conditioning component impact the health of our participants and our community through programming related to both diet and exercise and education.  Healthy Food Program Director Keisha Prosser will focus on: Health, nutrition, and fitness sessions help youth understand the importance of eating right, being active and practicing good hygiene. Her activities are structured to: Educate youth in learning about healthier eating and other behavior changes over hourly sessions. Topics will cover and include healthier eating, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated and more Two other Primary Goals include: to Reduce body weight by 7% and engage our youth in regular physical activity. Overall, Youth will “Master” these basic health principles. Our program will place them on the right track to managing their long-term health. Our Strength and Conditioning Program Director Sean Mayers will also incorporate fitness and physical activities that uses exercise specifics. He will implement and execute all prevention training regimens. One of Sean’s focuses will be Resistance Training. Resistance training for youth is safe and efficacious so long as important NSCA guidelines are followed. Our focus will be resistance training program and the development of healthy habits of safe resistance training and focus will be on technical performance. 

The SOLVE Cohort experience seems it will offer unique opportunities for one-on-one hands-on field experience, really allowing me to dive deep into the work I’m doing. In exchange, I will learn more by broadening my horizons. This opportunity seems to hyper-focused on one’s professional skills. This is extremely important, by having professionals that are hyper-focused on the individual’s skills it allows the fellow to sharpen their skills in a new environment and new setting, while maximizing their impact. Lastly, while participating in the Cohort, are not only will I further my professional skills, but I will learn as a “student” – learn from and with others like myself, along with accomplishing goals together with the help my continued leadership skills. These are reasons why I want to participate in your organization’s Cohort.  

Our program fills a key gap in achieving the life skills needs of contemporary youth.  Specifically, our program will be the only sports-based youth development program that will provide several health/wellness components and teach youth how alcohol and other drug use interferes with health behaviors and positive image achievement necessary for experiencing mental and physical well-being.  Our program will be an ideal evidence-based intervention for our organization and the youth we serve which include InShape PPW is designed to increase youth, parent and provider interest and participation by emphasizing positive images of youth engaged in wellness promoting habits. In addition, PYFA/InShape PPW is customized to each youth’s individual needs by providing messages tailored to their current health behaviors and desired self-images as realized values.  

Over the next five years, this program will emerge as a leader and trusted collaborator with our youth, their families, the Rhodes staff, and the Allegheny community. And, in Philadelphia’s out-of-school time sector. We are currently and will be supported by strategic partnerships with city agencies, community organizations and a broad network of stakeholders. Over the years we served more than 300 school-aged youth since its inception. And in the next decade, we anticipate serving 1,500 youth and opening more sites throughout Philadelphia. 

Our program will promote and ensure our youth develop and continue living healthy lifestyles. They will continue ensuring positive well-being enrichment activities take place; as they continue to grow and age. Key outcomes include: 

By 2028,

80% of participants are being prepared to transition through middle and high school and later, college and the workforce, with the support, guidance, and assistance of mentors. 

80% of participants will decrease their Weight, recidivism, deviant behaviors, and dropout rates. 

Also, our youth will develop positive engagement with law enforcement, Healthy eating and nutrition, self-esteem, personal development, class participation, social skills, grade advancement, college and workforce readiness will increase

There is an assumption in the Philadelphia area that male youth of color are not seeking employment, health/wellness, or post-secondary betterment opportunities. Many of them are not prepared properly to enter college or the workforce. Many lack the of the knowledge of healthy eating, test preparation, good studying habits, wearing the proper clothes, knowing of the importance of punctuality, and speaking properly. Through our workforce, life skills, health/wellness, and post-secondary enrichment activities; our organization will properly prepare them in all those facets.

This initiative will feature a web-based app and text messaging tool that will provide our youth with age appropriate health and wellness information.  The online and mobile tools will supplement and enhance our program's work. We plan to use the online (or paper) pre and posttest surveys. This is to monitor program fidelity and assess critical immediate pre-post-program factors predicting both wellness and substance use behaviors of our youth.  These data will be used to promote and sustain our program and make improvements over time. This method is also sensible to disseminate to families, stakeholders and donors.  This new approach utilizes scarce resources more efficiently to provide access to information and to foster a tech-based culture.

Our program complies with all federal, state, and local employment law and is committed to equal employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunity for all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. The Philadelphia Youth Football Academy's policy regarding equal opportunity applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, working conditions, scheduling, benefits, wage and salary administration, disciplinary action, termination, and social, educational, and recreational programs

The Philadelphia Youth Football Academy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization formed for charitable and youth development purposes. We are an incorporated business from which its shareholders or trustees do not benefit financially. Any money earned is retained by our fiscal sponsor, our organization, and used for our own expenses, operations, and programs.

We anticipate more funding from grants, sponsorships and donations. Our organization will submit proposals to seed funders, fellowship accelerators and established foundations. Many are a part of the Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia grantmaking. We also compiled a list of 90 other foundations. We will seek donations from various Philadelphia prominent businesses. Future rooms and space would be named after those who donate and provide sponsorship. Fundraising activities also will take place. 

We recently received a total of $30,000 in 2021-22. We received a $2750 from private donors. The Philadelphia Eagles, the Monat Gratitude and the Dicks Sporting Foundations donated a total of $22,000. We anticipate more funding coming from selling goods and/or services.