The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) is a national, non-profit, membership organization committed to promoting and supporting leadership, research, education, and best practices in the professions that support healthy, active lifestyles. The five national associations and six district associations of AAHPERD have more than 25,000 members who are professionals in elementary, secondary and higher education, administration, research, youth programming, dance, coaching, sport medicine, health education, public health, fitness, choreography, therapeutic programs, parks and recreation services, and others with career interests in quality of life and movement related fields. Their common interest in promoting healthy, active, and creative lifestyles for all unites them as an Alliance. For more information about AAHPERD please visit http://www.aahperd.org/index.cfm



The mission of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is to advance and integrate scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports. ACSM works with local, national, and international corporate communities to obtain funding that, in turn, provides financial assistance for a variety of sponsored activities and programs. The PCPFS and ACSM are working together as "science partners" by developing a teamed approach to offer the most up-to-date research on health, physical activity, and fitness available from the scientific community. Combined efforts include such items as providing the opportunity for each organization to offer research and program information in journals and digests, providing speaking opportunities at conferences and meetings, and providing national points of contact for meeting the objectives of both institutions. For more information about ACSM please visit http://www.acsm.org



Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease disease and stroke -- America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Each year the association invests millions in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives.

Start! is the association’s groundbreaking national movement that promotes physical activity through walking at work. It offers free physical activity, nutrition and other health information online and also offers employers resources to implement a workplace walking program and track employees’ progress. To learn more, go to www.heart.org/start.

Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart are the American Heart Association’s programs dedicated to raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. These educational programs teach physical fitness and promote the value of community service to students and their families. Elementary and middle schools throughout the nation are encouraged to participate in these life-saving programs as they allow students to have fun while learning good habits that can shape a lifetime of better health.

To combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic, the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation joined forces in 2005 to create the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program offers support to schools to create healthier school environments that promote physical activity and healthy eating and recognizes schools that succeed. To enroll your school, please visit www.healthiergeneration.org/schools.

The association’s policy efforts include working to advance federal, state and local legislation to curb the childhood obesity epidemic through comprehensive physical education, coordinated school health, and school nutrition programs. The AHA also advocates for built environments that integrate physical activity into daily life, safe routes to school, as well as worksite wellness.

Four association scientific councils -- Nutrition Physical Activity and Metabolism (NPAM), Clinical Cardiology, Cardiovascular Nursing and Epidemiology and Prevention (EPI) – promote physical activity and healthy eating. NPAM promotes the expansion and exchange of knowledge on nutrition, physical activity and metabolism related to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The council also promotes healthy lifestyles and behaviors to prevent disease. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit http://www.americanheart.org.



The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship. Members are orthopaedic surgeons who are recognized for their contributions to the profession through active research, education and clinical care of orthopaedic sports injuries. The common interest of the membership is their concern with the effects of exercise and the monitoring of its impact on active individuals of all ages, abilities and levels of fitness. Through research and advances in surgical and rehabilitation techniques, orthopaedic sports medicine specialists have been able to treat and rehabilitate athletes whose injuries were once career-ending, not just getting them back in the game but keeping them physically active throughout their lives. Formed as a non-profit forum for professional education and research within the orthopaedic community, membership has increased from less than 100 when founded in 1972 to more than 2,500. Today, its educational and publishing activities serve as an authoritative resource for both the sports medicine professional and for the general public, including physical education teachers, coaches and parents. For more information, visit http://www.sportsmed.org.



The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 72,000 members. The mission of APTA is to further the profession's role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of movement dysfunctions and the enhancement of the physical health and functional abilities of members of the public. The vision of APTA is that by 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.

For more information visit http://www.apta.org.



Certified athletic trainers are unique health care providers who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports the 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through education and research. For more information about NATA please visit http://www.nata.org/

NATA
2952 Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 200
Dallas, TX 75247
214.637.6282
214.637.2206 (fax)


The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is the world's leading authority on strength and conditioning. Drawing upon its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings. The PCPFS and NSCA are collaborating as "science partners" to develop and disseminate appropriate information to the public. The desire of both parties is to make this information action-oriented at the national, state, local, and/or grassroots levels. For more information on the NSCA please visit http://www.nsca.com