Steps to a Healthier Cleveland

	Steps to a Healthier Cleveland
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 Cleveland, for a total of 40 communities. Amount of Award $1 million. Project Area City of Cleveland (population 478,403). Demographics of Project Area 51% of residents are African American. 26% of residents live below the Federal Poverty Level. Target Population Racial and ethnic minorities, low-income persons, residents of at-risk neighborhoods, and the medically underserved. Lead Agency Cleveland Department of Public Health. Steps Activities Media Incorporate public service announcements into the morning announcements in all schools. Topics will include obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and smoking prevention and cessation. Leverage resources and enhance the Clevelanders in Motion social marketing campaign to address improved nutrition and physical activity. Policy Adopt competitive food policies in select middle and high schools. School Expand the Open Airways asthma education program into additional schools. Implement the Safe Routes to Schools program citywide. Community Encourage healthy competitions between Cleveland's neighborhoods in the race to be Cleveland's Healthiest Neighborhood. Use lay health promoters to provide grassroots community health education in various settings, such as places of worship, public housing, and day care. Workplace Expand and enhance the Active for Life workplace wellness program to include smoking cessation and clean indoor air policy. Create a "Healthy Cleveland Business Council." Health Care Implement Dietitians Involved in Education and Training (DIET). A dietitian will conduct random chart audits in physician's offices and provide training in the areas of diagnosing, assessing, and treating childhood obesity. Collaborate with local health care systems to conduct provider education to highlight the benefits of incorporating healthy lifestyle counseling as a part of preventive care. 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 Cleveland Municipal School District, Case School of Medicine, ParkWorks, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Kaiser Permanente, Slavic Village Development/Active Living by Design, MetroHealth Medical System, Saint Luke's Foundation of Cleveland, American Lung Association/Greater Cleveland Asthma Coalition, Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, Ohio State University Extension–Cuyahoga County, City Year Cleveland, EcoCity Cleveland, ASIA, Inc., Center for Community Solutions, United Pastors in Mission. Cleveland Steps Contact Jennifer Scofield (216) 664-4310 jscofield@city.cleveland.oh.us Return to Community Fact Sheets