Steps to a Healthier Native Alaska

	Steps to a Healthier Native Alaska
2004
The Steps to a HealthierUS five-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 fund an additional 16, including the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) for a total of 40 communities. Amount of Award $500,000. Project Area South Eastern region of Alaska, population of 73,302 year round residents. Demographics of the Project Area Primarily the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimpshian. Target Population 12,072 Alaska Native SEARHC beneficiaries. 4,174 rural residents served by community health centers. Lead Agency SEARHC. Proposed Activities Media Include regular columns focused on Steps goal in regional publications. Emphasize through media materials the importance of the traditional subsistence lifestyle in controlling obesity. Policy Work with Native groups to adopt resolutions and policies in support of health and wellness to promote changes in community norms. Advocate for Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation tools. School Increase the number of minutes each student is active during the school day through expanded recess and physical education classes. Implement Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn curriculum in schools. Community Community Wellness Advocates will work with community organizations to expand existing activities and to implement new activities focusing on the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels of the socio-ecological model. Increase the number of schools and public buildings that provide access to their physical activity spaces outside of normal operating hours. Workplace Enhance worksite policies to mandate smoke-free workplaces. Healthcare Establish a Steps provider advisory team at SEARHC clinics to identify provider-supported methods and systemic changes that address chronic diseases. Link clinics to community resources through referrals and joint sponsorship of classes at community locations. 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 Alaska Native Brotherhood/Sisterhood, Take Heart Alaska, Alaskans Promoting Physical Activity, Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance, Eat Smart Alaska, Indian Health Service, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, University of Alaska, Association of the Education of Young Children. Contact Information: Kathy O'Gara kathy.ogara@searchc.org (907) 966-8736 Return to Community Fact Sheets