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Funding Period:
2004–2009
The Steps Program in Hillsborough County,
Florida
CDC’s Steps Program funds states, cities, and tribal groups to implement
community-based chronic disease prevention programs to reduce the burden of
obesity, diabetes, and asthma by addressing three related risk factors:
physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. Steps-funded programs
are showing what can be done locally in schools, work sites, communities,
and health care settings to promote healthier lifestyles and help people
make long-lasting and sustainable changes that can reduce their risk for
chronic diseases.
Background
The Steps Program in Florida’s Hillsborough County is building healthier
communities in 16 ZIP codes within the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace by
working with schools, health care providers, work sites, faith-based groups,
and community leaders. Programmatic efforts are focused on adults and
school-aged children in racial or ethnic minority and low-income
populations. More than one-third of Hillsborough County residents are
Hispanic or Latino (21%) or black or African American (16%). In 2005, 13% of
residents in Hillsborough County lived below the federal poverty level. The
value of intervention among young people is underscored by the fact that the
Hillsborough County School District is the eighth largest in the United
States, serving 185,000 students in 214 elementary, middle, and high
schools.
Spotlight on Success
- Through a community-based educational program for parents of asthmatic
children and the general public, 1,100 school employees have received asthma
education training, and operational practices at 10 schools have been modified
to allow students to use peak flow meters (portable, hand-held devices that
measure breathing levels) on school premises. In addition, the Hillsborough
County School District established a district-wide policy that allows children
with severe allergies or asthma to self-medicate during school hours (using an
EpiPen® or inhaler). This policy covers more than 200 schools in the district.
An additional 15 training sessions that were conducted for 136 child care and
day care center directors resulted in a 28% gain in knowledge about asthma, its
related illnesses, and exposures to environmental triggers. Read this success
story in The Steps Program in Action, available at
www.cdc.gov/steps/success_stories/pdf/hillsborough.pdf (PDF-83KB).
- The Hillsborough County Steps Program, in conjunction with the School
District of Hillsborough County, completed School Health Index assessments at 28
schools implementing the Coordinated School Health Program, and at another 45
schools planning to do so. District schools also established goals for improving
physical activity programs, healthy food offerings, and tobacco-free lifestyle
programs for both students and staff members.
Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are integral to the success of the Steps Program
in Hillsborough County. The partnerships are made up of both traditional and
nontraditional partners, including health care providers, health plan
administrators, faith-based organizations, chambers of commerce, government
entities, cooperative extensions, businesses, museums, the school district,
and institutions of higher learning. These diverse partners help guide the
design and implementation of interventions in the Hillsborough County
community.
Contact
Steps to a Healthier FL–Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Health Department
Telephone: 813-247-STEP (7837)
www.mysteps.org*
*Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a
service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization
by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is
not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found
at this link.
One or more documents on this Web page are available in Adobe Acrobat® Format
(PDF).
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files on this page.
Page last reviewed: May 2, 2008
Page last modified: July 29, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and
Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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