Human Kinetics

hk

About the Organization:

Mission: To produce innovative, informative products in all areas of physical activity that help people worldwide lead healthier, more active lives.

In today’s world, survival of the fittest means survival of the best informed.

Information is now produced and exchanged on a scale unimagined even ten years ago. When that information is integrated with life experiences, we gain something even more useful: knowledge. Building that knowledge is the role of Human Kinetics (HK) in the new millennium.

Human Kinetics is the premier knowledge integrator in the physical activity field. We synthesize vast amounts of information into a constantly evolving array of products that utilize current technology to meet the needs of our varied audiences. HK has served the physical activity field since 1974, when it published its first book–a proceedings from a sport psychology conference.

Today, HK produces textbooks and their ancillaries, consumer books, software, videos, audiocassettes, journals, and distance education courses. Our products will continue to take a variety of forms.

Our world headquarters is based in Champaign, Illinois, where we employ more than 200 people in more than 90,000 square feet of office and warehouse facilities. In 2000, we added another 50,000 square feet of new warehouse and office space. HK’s offices in England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand bolster our international efforts. Our annual sales, including international operations, surpass $20 million.

A privately held company, HK’s mission has been to meet the needs of teachers, coaches, professionals, researchers, sport participants, and fitness enthusiasts. Our objective is to make a positive difference in the quality of life of every human being by promoting physical activity through information. We do so by seeking out experts to create our products; by hiring educated, professionally qualified staff to develop those products; and by working closely and cooperatively with leading scholarly and professional associations.

This commitment, combined with innovation and the vision to anticipate information needs for an exploding field, enables HK to annually publish more than 120 books and 20 journals, to produce numerous videos and software products, and to explore new information forms using today’s and tomorrow’s technology.

Contact Info:

Web-site: http://www.humankinetics.com

Human Kinetics Response to the National Blueprint InitiativeHuman Kinetics enjoys its involvement with The National Blueprint Partners Project. It fits perfectly with our mission to produce innovative, informative products in all areas of physical activity that help people worldwide lead healthier, more active lives.

Over the past 18 months, Human Kinetics initiated several major projects including:

1. National Blueprint Partners Website
2. Special edition of Journal of Aging and Physical Activity entitled National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Age 50 and Over
3. Active Living Partners Program, a comprehensive behavior change program.

National Blueprint Website:

You will find the National Blueprint’s website at www.agingblueprint.org. There, you’ll see partner organizations, links to related sites, conferences and events, bulletin board, frequently asked questions, tips on aging and physical activity, physically active role models, and publications. Since the site went live on May 15, over 6,000 visits have been logged. September was the site’s busiest month with 1,785 visitors who averaged about two minutes at the site.

Special Issue of Journal

In May 2001, Human Kinetics published a special 96-page issue of the Journal of Aging and Physical and Activity focusing on the National Blueprint. That special issue went to nearly 1,000 subscribers and a quantity of 1,000 went to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to distribution.

Active Living Partners

In August, Human Kinetics launched the Active Living Partners, a comprehensive behavior change initiative developed with the Cooper Institute. The program is one of two interventions chosen by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to use in their upcoming multi-million dollar grant project, Active for Life. This four-year study will test the ability of two interventions to increase physical activity in sedentary adults over the age of 50.

At the heart of the Active Living Program is a 20-lesson behavior change course targeted to a general adult audience. To learn more about Active Living, visit the program’s website at www.activeliving.info.

Resources on Aging and Physical Activity:

International Curriculum Guidelines for Preparing Physical Activity Instructors of Older Adults