HealthPOWER! Prevention News (Fall 2011)—Small Business Conference 

NCP Extends Outreach at Recent VA Small Business Conference—Veterans Get Practical Experience with the Nine Healthy Living Messages

In August, New Orleans hosted the VA's annual National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo, the largest nationwide conference of its kind. The goal of the meeting was to make Veterans and small business owners aware of the wealth of tools and programs available to help them succeed in their business ventures. But attending Veterans also got practical guidance and resources for success in an equally important personal endeavor: leading a healthier lifestyle.

A free, day-long Open House during the conference offered Veterans "one-stop shopping" for the services of a variety of national VA programs. Of the hundreds of program booths at the Open House, HPDP was the focus of nine booths that were manned by VHA staff members from facilities in the mid-South's VISN 16. Each of these booths was focused on one of the Healthy Living Messages developed by NCP to reinforce positive health behaviors and help Veterans stay "well and well-informed."

The booth themes ranged from "Be Involved in Your Health Care" to "Manage Stress" and offered interactive experiences for both new and experienced Veterans. The largest booth, "Be Physically Active," allowed Veterans as well as VA staff to participate in live Zumba^®, Jazzercise^®, and yoga demonstrations. The "Strive for a Healthy Weight" booth was based on NCP"s MOVE!^® weight management program, and allowed Veterans to talk with MOVE!^® clinicians, pick up program resources, and view weight-loss success stories through the MOVE!^® Web site.

According to Sophia Hurley, NCP"s MOVE!^® Physical Activity Program Coordinator, it was the first time that the event organizers conducted the Open House and the first time that NCP attended the meeting. "The conference was not only a great way to reach out to Veterans at the local and individual level with our Health Living Messages campaign," says Hurley. "It also helped us understand how to best help Veterans access the huge—and sometimes overwhelming—number of excellent VA services, resources, and programs."

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