The National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy: Why NAHPL?

Abstract

The National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy (NAHPL; The Academy) was founded in 2020 to provide leadership, mentoring, advocacy, and professional development for professionals who support the dimensions of health, physical education, dance, and sport.  The Academy is a diverse, inclusive, member-driven organization advancing the dimensions of health and physical literacy through professional development, advocacy, mentoring, and applied research in the areas of health, physical education, dance, and sport.  This paper provides a brief overview of the evolution of health and physical literacy in our field, as well as the definitions of health and physical literacy used by The Academy to define the work of the organization.  The Academy works to advance health and physical literacy throughout the lifespan by working with professionals across all sub-disciplines of Kinesiology.  In addition, the founders wanted to provide an outlet for the dissemination of applied research for practitioners in the areas of health, physical education, dance, and sport, who support enhancing health and physical literacy at all levels of society and across the entire lifecycle.  Given the interprofessional nature of the sub-disciplines within kinesiology, The Academy is dedicated to cultivating member growth through networking and the highest quality professional development opportunities.