Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough

	Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough
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 Hillsborough County, Florida, for a total of 40 communities. Amount of Award $1 million. Project Area 16 zip codes within the City of Tampa and Temple Terrace, Florida. Demographics of Project Area The Hillsborough County School District is the 10^th largest in the Nation; it serves 180,000 students in 193 elementary, middle, and high schools. 18% of Hillsborough County residents are Hispanic and 15% are African Americans. Target Population School-age children, minority and low-income populations, and populations with a low educational level. Lead Agency Hillsborough County Health Department. Steps Activities Media Purchase advertising time on television and radio stations and in newspapers to address all six focus areas of Steps on a rotating basis. Advertisements are to include the Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough logo and a centralized phone number. Develop and promote a family health newsletter in English and Spanish. Sponsor large community events and provide remote transmission to radio and television stations. Policy Partner with Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) to implement youth-led efforts to pass smoking bans in the community. School Contract with the American Lung Association to expand the Open Airways curriculum in schools. Provide training for school staff through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Florida Chapter (AAFA/FL), on how to assist students with asthma to prevent an asthma crisis. Community Develop and promote a Passport Hillsborough for children. The passport is stamped at every visit to a participating restaurant or park when the child orders a healthy meal or exercises. Create mall-walking groups and implement annual walks. Workplace Establish a pedometer walking program for employees in partner agencies. Provide point-of-decision prompts to encourage employees to use the stairs. Health Care Initiate tracking programs at health care facilities to help identify and track patients. Encourage providers to calculate body mass index as a vital sign. The AAFA/FL will offer Asthma and Allergy Essentials for Child Care Providers, an asthma awareness in-service program, for preschool and child care providers. 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 YMCA, American Heart Association, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Community Health Advocacy Partnership, American Lung Association, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, More Health, Inc., Students Working Against Tobacco, St. Joseph's Hospital, Publix grocery stores, School District of Hillsborough County, Hillsborough County Department of Health and Social Services, and many others. Hillsborough County Steps Contact Douglas Holt, M.D. (813) 307-8000 doug_holt@doh.state.fl.us Return to Community Fact Sheets