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 3 in Pennsylvania, for a total of 40 communities.
Amount of Award
Project Area
- Rural Tioga County (North Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC)),
population 41,373).
- Urban Fayette County (Southwest AHEC, population 148,644).
- Urban Luzerne (Northeast AHEC, population 319,250).
Demographics of Project Area
- 126 public schools, 58 private schools, 15 insurance carriers, and 13
hospitals.
Target Population
- Rural and small communities.
- School-age children and school staff.
- Mothers of infants and young children in day care and Head Start centers.
Lead Agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Proposed Activities
Media
- Evaluate, enhance, and expand the reach and impact of current radio and
newspaper ad campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Conduct counteradvertising campaigns to reduce the attractiveness of
tobacco use.
Policy
Develop
policies to provide children with asthma with safe physical activity
opportunities in schools.
School
Support the development of school-based chapters for BUSTED!, a youth-led
antitobacco movement.
Develop written action plans for every student with asthma in accordance
with American Lung Association guidelines.
Develop and implement school health councils to address the promotion of
healthy lifestyles, including proper nutrition and physical activity.
Community
Implement the Color Me Healthy health promotion program in Head Start and
day care centers.
Collaborate with restaurant and food service partners to label healthy
menu items.
Collaborate with community organizations to increase the availability of
physical activity resources.
Workplace
Increase the availability of fruits and vegetables by adding salad bars
and healthy food items to worksite cafeterias and vending machines.
Provide professional development for food service staff related to
providing a variety of appealing, healthy meals that meet U.S. Department of
Agriculture guidelines.
Health Care
- Implement office-based reminder systems that support compliance with
guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of asthma,
diabetes, and obesity.
- Increase participation in the Ask Me 3 program, which is designed to
improve communications between patient and provider.
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
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health,
Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Physical Activity, East Stroudsburg
University, Head Start Programs, American Lung Association.
Pennsylvania Steps Contact
Leslie Best
(717) 787-6214
lbest@state.pa.us
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