Steps to a HealthierUS logo Steps to a Healthier Colorado


2004

The Steps to a HealthierUS five-year cooperative agreement program funds states, cities, and tribal entities to implement chronic disease prevention efforts focused on reducing the burden of diabetes, overweight, obesity, and asthma and addressing three related risk factors — physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use.

For FY 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocated $13.6 million to fund 24 communities, including several in Colorado; in FY 2004 HHS allocated $35.8 million to increase funding to the existing 24 communities and fund an additional 16 for a total of 40 communities.

Project Area

  • Mesa County: Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade (population 120,000).
  • Pueblo County: Pueblo (population 147,000).
  • Teller County: Cripple Creek, Victor, Woodland Park, Florissant, Divide (population 20,000).
  • Weld County: Greeley and 31 unincorporated towns (population 205,000).

Target Populations
  • Mesa: School-aged children, youth in low income areas, government and school district employees, senior citizens, uninsured/underinsured adults, and migrant farm workers.
  • Pueblo: Children and adults at high risk for or diagnosed with chronic diseases, health professionals, low-income populations and Latinos.
  • Teller: Low-income populations and school-aged children.
  • Weld: Latinos, low-income populations, and people without health insurance.

Steps Activities

Media

  • Implement community-wide, social norming media campaigns to increase tobacco-use cessation attempts and promote clean indoor air policies.
  • Arrange for television public service announcements to promote clean indoor air polices.
  • Develop public advertising/promotion campaign on diabetes prevention strategies and resources using multiple media outlets, including newspapers, government-access and other cable television channels, and radio stations.
  • Develop a multifaceted promotional campaign on the 5 A Day for Better Health program and the annual 5 A Day Month using seminars, posters, brochures, and educational classes.
  • Develop and implement county-based social marketing campaign for diabetes prevention.
  • Initiate an asthma media campaign. 

Policy

  • Place, maintain, and enhance distance markers on trails and walkways within the community.
  • Work with the state compliance officer to evaluate merchant education and penalties/incentives on tobacco sales to underage youth.
  • Promote an educational campaign and messages supporting improved clean indoor air ordinances and policies on smoking in public places.
  • Implement policies in accordance with the Surgeon General's recommendations for physical education requirements.
  • Develop and implement guidelines for providing healthy snacks and foods in school vending machines, grocery stores, and convenience stores.
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    School

  • Implement Middle Schools On The Move pedometer program.
  • Implement Take 10! curriculum in classrooms.
  • Recruit, organize, and provide technical assistance for KidsWalk-to-School programs.
  • Develop and implement a Junk Food Free Zone policy in schools.
  • Establish guidelines for foods provided to students for school parties and snacks.
  • Promote compliance with the Tobacco Free Schools Law through an advertising campaign.
  • Develop and implement policies ensuring that all foods and beverages available on school campuses and at school events are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • Introduce the 5 A Day model and Breakfast in the Classroom to students.
  • Conduct physical activity awareness campaigns that focus on informing elementary school parent teacher organizations (PTOs) and middle and high school health teachers (especially those working with students at risk) about President's Challenge, Colorado On The Move™, Turn Off the TV Week, and Walk or Bike to School Days.
  • Implement a comprehensive marketing plan for 5 A Day in schools.
  • Launch the Open Airways for Schools program to create a supportive atmosphere for students and teachers to improve self-management of asthma during the school day.
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    Community

  • Implement Colorado On The Move™ in youth centers, seniors centers, and faith-based organizations in the community.
  • Implement nutrition education including 5 A Day, good nutrition, and healthy eating messages through the community, including restaurants, grocery stores, churches, childcare centers and community groups.
  • Administer American Diabetes Association risk tests and distribute appropriate diabetes educational materials.
  • Arrange social norming project to promote tobacco-use cessation.
  • Support Active Community Environment policies that build connectivity among trails, paths, neighborhoods, schools, and sidewalks to enhance community members' ability to be physically active
  • Implement physical activity education including President's Challenge program, Stairwell to Better Health and Turnoff the TV Week in the community.
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    Workplace

  • Implement Colorado On The Move™ in workplaces, especially those with large Latino populations.
  • Work with large employers to implement point-of-decision prompts in the workplace to promote healthy lifestyles.
  • Implement nutrition education including 5 A Day, Meeting Well guidelines and healthy eating messages in workplaces.
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    Health Care

  • Provide training to health care providers on how to use Small Steps, Big Rewards toolkit and the Diabetes Risk Assessment Survey to build awareness, prevent and help manage diabetes.
  • Coordinate with the Colorado Prevention Center to implement the Bridge the Gap (train-the-trainer) program, bringing the latest research into practice regarding lipid management, drug therapy, and other diabetes-related issues.
  • Sponsor Continuing Medical Education events targeted to primary care providers in order to establish a standard level of care for all patients with diabetes.
  • Provide dilated eye examinations for low-income people with diabetes who do not have vision insurance.
  • Educate healthcare providers on effective interventions for reducing a child's exposure to secondhand smoke through the distribution of provider guidelines and cessation resources.
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    Evaluation

    HHS will provide training and technical assistance to help each Steps community develop measurable program objectives and specific indicators of progress and use relevant data to support ongoing program improvement. HHS also will conduct a national evaluation of the overall program. Existing data sources, such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, will be used to identify and measure program outcomes and assess progress toward program goals.

    Community Partners

    Colorado On the Move, Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition (COPAN) Coalition, Colorado Asthma Coalition, Colorado Cancer Coalition, Colorado Diabetes Coalition, Colorado Cardiovascular Health Coalition, Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition (COPAN) Task Force, Colorado Diabetes Task Forces, Mesa County Health Department, Mesa County School District 51, Western Colorado Area Health Education Center, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Marillac Clinic, American Cancer Society, Grand Junction Parks and Recreation, Pueblo School District 60, Southeastern Area Health Education Center, Weld County Diabetes Coalition, Tobacco-Free Weld County Program, Weld County Community Consortium, Greeley Recreation Center, Banner Health, Weld County Commissioners, Rocky Mountain HMO, Parkview Medical Center, and Northern Colorado Health Alliance. 

    Colorado Steps Contact

    Rachel Oys, MPP
    Director
    Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program
    Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, A-5
    Denver, CO 80246
    (303) 692-2606
    (303) 691-7721 fax
    Rachel.Oys@state.co.us

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