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 DeKalb County, Georgia, for a total of 40 communities.
Amount of Award
Project Area
- South and southeastern part of DeKalb County (population 327,155).
- The municipalities of Avondale Estates, Lithonia, Pine Lake, and Stone
Mountain.
Demographics of Project Area
- The area includes 49 elementary, 12 middle, and 12 high schools with
63,438 students.
- 86% of the residents in the intervention are African American.
- 41% of the family households have a single female parent.
- 10% of the residents live below the Federal Poverty Level.
- 46% of the students in the intervention-area schools are eligible for the
free and reduced-price lunch program.
Target Population
- African American youth and adults.
Lead Agency
- Dekalb County Board of Health.
Steps Activities
Media
- Partner with the Georgia Coalition for Physical Activity and Nutrition to
implement the Take Charge of Your Health by using paid and earned media time.
This program targets minority and low socioeconomic status populations and has
three key messages: Take 5 A Day, Take Down Fat, and Take Action.
- Use paid and earned media time for tobacco cessation and secondhand smoke
media messages throughout the intervention area.
Policy
Partner to advocate for ordinances requiring 100% smoke-free public places
and clean indoor air at worksites in all municipalities in the intervention
area.
School
Award small grants (approximately $5,000 each) to up to 10 schools to
implement changes recommended by the School Health Index.
Implement the Fitnessgram/Activitygram program to provide individual
student assessment of fitness and activity levels.
Community
Partner with DeKalb County Parks and Recreation to implement Hearts 'N
Parks, a physical activity and nutrition education program.
Implement the Small Steps, Big Rewards Senior Program at senior centers to
help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Workplace
Partner with Kaiser Permanente to implement a physical activity promotion
program at three worksites, which would affect a minimum of 850 employees.
Conduct a Work Site Wellness Survey in 100 businesses to assess current
worksite health promotion activities.
Health Care
Provide health care provider training about the benefits of incorporating
prevention into medical practice.
Hold a symposium on health disparities for community members and primary
care physicians.
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
DeKalb County School System, Association of Black Cardiologists, Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta, DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Service, DeKalb
County Human and Community Development, DeKalb County Parks and Recreation,
Kaiser Permanente, Morehouse School of Medicine, Oakhurst Medical Centers, and
YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta.
DeKalb County Steps Contact
Teresa Daub
404-294-3758
tldaub@gdph.state.ga.us
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