Steps to a HealthierUS logo Steps to a Healthier Minnesota


2004

The Steps to a HealthierUS 5-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; in FY 2004, HHS allocated $35.8 million to increase funding to the existing 24 communities and to fund an additional 16, including 4 in Minnesota, for a total of 40 communities.

Amount of Award

  • $1.5 million.

Project Area

  • Minneapolis (population 382,618).
  • Rochester, Olmsted County (population 85,806).
  • St. Paul, Ramsey County (population 287,151).
  • Wilmer County (population 19,000).

Demographics of Project Area
  • Minneapolis has a school enrollment of 43,397 students.
  • 58 languages are spoken in the homes of school students in Olmsted County.
  • Ramsey County has the largest Hmong population in the nation (more than 24,000) and a school population of more than 43,000 students.
  • Wilmer County has a growing Somali population of approximately 1,000.

Target Population
  • Minneapolis: Low-income individuals and families; public school students and their parents; and African American, American Indian, and Hispanic communities.
  • Rochester: Low-income individuals and families and racial and ethnic minorities.
  • St. Paul: Hmong, Hispanic/Latino, African American, and American Indian communities.
  • Willmar: Migrant worker, Hispanic/Latino, and East African/Somali communities.

Lead Agency
  • Minnesota Department of Health.

Proposed Activities

Media

  • Contract with Be Active Minnesota to create a media plan that incorporates culturally specific messages.
  • Adapt the Minneapolis Star Tribune portion size guide for populations of special focus and distribute the guide through multicultural media and community organizations.
  • Implement a media campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke. 

Policy

  • Work with the Minneapolis Park Board to implement a smoke-free parks policy at youth sporting events.
  • Work with worksites and community buildings to offer healthier food choices in vending machines.
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    School

  • Recruit schools to complete the School Health Index modules.
  • Implement the High 4 and 5 for 5 curricula in classrooms.
  • Expand "fixings bars" to offer more fruits and vegetables in cafeterias.
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    Community

  • Subsidize startup costs for bins and coolers to store fresh fruits and vegetables in local independent groceries.
  • Distribute vouchers to target populations for use at farmers' markets for purchase of fruits and vegetables.
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    Workplace

  • Promote adoption of the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health guidelines for catered meals and conferences by City of Minneapolis departments.
  • Implement the Smoke Free Car campaign at worksites.
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    Health Care

  • Develop a prescription pad screening and behavioral health advice tool for adults.
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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 will also conduct a national evaluation of the entire 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

    Minneapolis Mayor's Office, Healthy Learners Board, Neighborhood Health Care Network, Minneapolis American Indian Center, Southeast Asian Community Council, Olmsted Medical Center and Regional Foundation, Channel One Community Food Shelf, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Cardio Vision 2020, Health Partners, Inc., Children's Hospital of St. Paul, National Urban School Health Leadership Forum, Wilmer City government, and Wilmer Teen Health and Wellness Council. 

    Minnesota Steps Contact

    Donald Bishop
    (651) 281-9839
    don.bishop@health.state.mn.us

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