Steps to a Healthier Alabama
Steps to a Healthier Alabama
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 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) allocated $35.8 million to increase funding to the existing 24 communities and fund an additional 16, including two communities in Alabama (the River Region and the Southeast Alabama Region) through the Alabama Department of Public Health ($1.5 million) for a total of 40 communities across the country.
The River Region project area includes Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon and Montgomery counties. The target population for Steps interventions in the River Region is individuals and families at risk for diabetes, asthma, and obesity, minority populations, rural residents, and school-aged children. For more information, view the River Region STEPS Fact Sheet.
The River Region lead agency is the Montgomery Area Community Wellness Coalition.
Proposed Interventions:
* We will launch media campaigns to include television and radio station broadcasts of health messages for ten weeks concurrently with news reports on the benefits of physical activity. The following year’s report will be on nutrition, with the final year’s report on smoking cessation.
* We will advocate for more open space, facilitate access to non-motorized transportation (bikeways, sidewalks) to increase physical activity in the River Region.
* We will implement the CDC’s School Health Index (SHI) assessment and planning guide for developing physical activity, healthy eating, and a tobacco-free lifestyle program.
* We will identify children at risk of asthma, diabetes, overweight and obesity and provide support for them and their parents to manage their he alth and wellness.
* We will utilize community locations including faith-based organizations for he alth screenings and risk assessments for chronic disease.
* We will promote worksite wellness to employers through the “Healthy Steps Challenge ,” a health promotion program focusing on tobacco use, nutrition, and physical activity.
* We want to utilize Wellness Advocates to support those at risk throughout the River Region to make healthy lifestyle changes.
A River Region Steps Consortium will be developed from the Envision 2020 River Region Health/Wellness/Healthcare Delivery Task Force membership as well as other interested individu als from throughout the entire five-county area.
Lead Agency Contact:
Jack Hataway, MD
Principal Investigator
Alabama Department of Public Health
(334) 206-5616
River Region Contact:
Carroll S. Nason, DrPA
Executive Director
Montgomery Area Community Wellness Coalition
(334) 293-6504
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