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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, including Philadelphia; in FY 2004, HHS
allocated $35.8 million to increase funding to the existing 24 communities and
to fund an additional 16 for a total of 40 communities.
Project Area
- Fifteen contiguous Philadelphia neighborhoods (population 499,734): Center
City-West, Cobbs Creek, Fairmount-Spring Garden, Haddington-Overbrook,
Millcreek-Parkside, Nicetown-Tioga, Northern Liberties-West Kensington,
Paschall-Kingsessing, Poplar-Temple, Schuykill, Sharswood-Stanton, Southwark-Bella
Vista, South Broad-Girard Estates, Strawberry Mansion, and University City.
Target Population
- Racial/ethnic minorities who experience a disparately high prevalence of
the targeted conditions and risk factors.
- People living below the Federal Poverty Level.
- People without health insurance.
- People living with a disability.
- People with limited English proficiency.
Steps Activities
Media
- Implement a grassroots social marketing campaign that draws on community
expertise as well as that of marketing and public health professionals to
develop and deliver healthy behavior messages.
Policy
Support the
School District of Philadelphia in the development of a new healthy snack food
policy.
Encourage
local restaurants to provide healthier options on menus.
Support
local governmental and community initiatives that address crime and safety in
areas where people exercise.
School
Assess the health environment of schools by using the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's School Health Index assessment and planning guide.
Replicate university-assisted community schools model across additional
schools in the targeted area offering evening, weekend, and summer activities
for community residents that include exercise and fitness, youth development
and academic programs, and recreation and culture.
Assess no-smoking policies for staff and students on and around school
grounds; coordinate referrals of students and staff members to community-based
smoking cessation programs.
Expand existing Asthma Clubs into Health Clubs, thereby including programs
and activities aimed at students with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes
and obesity.
Community
Partner with faith-based organizations to enhance diabetes self-management
education programs.
Enhance existing care coordination model of the Asthma Call Center, which
currently targets children with asthma, to include adults.
Expand home visiting program to address environmental triggers of asthma.
Establish a grassroots communications network throughout the intervention
area that will promote the healthy living message of Steps.
Workplace
Commit to using point-of-decision prompts in the buildings of partners and
their contractors.
Implement Health Trip, a worksite wellness program that encourages school
employees to make healthy choices.
Health Care
- Implement uniform standards of care for diabetes patients among primary
care providers, including managed care plans, through evidenced-based clinical
guidelines and office-based prompts.
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
American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Greater
Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition, Latino Diabetes Alliance, American Lung
Association, Mayor's Office of Health and Fitness, School District of
Philadelphia, African American Interdenominational Ministries Inc., Health
Promotion Council, Health Federation of Philadelphia (Federal Community and
Migrant Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers), College of
Physicians of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, University of
Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Temple University, Albert Einstein Healthcare
Network, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital to Advance Population Health, St. Agnes Medical Center, Mercy Health
System, Quality Insights, Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma, Philadelphia
Corporation for Aging, Healthier Babies, Healthier Futures Inc., Philadelphia
Health Management Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, National Nursing Center
Consortium, Independence Foundation, YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity, Food
Trust, and Tobacco-Free Education & Action Coalition for Health, Neighborhood
Bike Works, Logistics Management Corporation, MEE Productions, Palmer
Foundation, PDPH-Tobacco Control Program, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine, Philadelphia Department of Recreation, Kensington Hospital and Greater
Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition.
Philadelphia Steps Contact
Brenda Shelton-Dunston, M.P.H.
Project Director/Principal Investigator
Steps to a Healthier Philadelphia Initiative
Philadelphia Department of Public Health
1101 Market Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 685-5652
(215) 685-5666 fax
Brenda.Shelton-Dunston@phila.gov
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