Getting Active and Making a Difference:

Physical Activity in Mentoring

Mobius and the Vermont Department of Health are partnering in an effort to provide resources and guidance for mentoring organizations and mentors across the state to incorporate some form of physical activity into their programming.

This new partnership is driven by the Healthy Vermonters 2020 goals that aim to reduce the number of obese youth to 8% by 2020, and the inherent mission of mentoring, to enhance the lives of youth and provide them with a foundation for success.

The Problem:

• Between 1999 and 2013 the number of obese students in grades 9-12 rose 4%.
• Only 1/4 of students in this age group meet physical activity guidelines
• 29% of students in grades 6-8 use a computer for 3+ hours/day for non-school-related activities
• Both higher screen time and lower physical activity rates are linked with higher odds of psychological distress, including emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and peer relationship problems

The Solution:

Increase the number of opportunities for physical activity in youth serving settings. Adults play an important role in providing age-appropriate opportunities for physical activity and help lay a foundation for life-long health.

How Can I Get Involved?

In collaboration with Mobius, the Vermont Department of Health has created a guidebook that aims to help mentors and mentoring program coordinators understand the importance of getting mentees active and aid them in finding ways to do so.
View or Download the Guidebook Here.