YMCA of the USA
Increasing the Capacity of Steps-Funded Communities
Funding Period: 2005-2008
As the nation’s oldest and largest health and wellness organization, the
YMCA of the USA is well positioned to support the Steps Program’s efforts to
address the nation’s growing concerns regarding obesity and other chronic
conditions.
In September 2004, the national office of the YMCA (YMCA of the USA) was selected as a funded national partner of the
Steps Program and awarded $2 million ($500,000 per year for four years)
through a cooperative agreement to
increase the reach of Steps-funded activities. From FY 2005 through FY 2008,
the YMCA of the USA provided annual mini-grants of $2,500 to $12,000 to
YMCAs in Steps communities to collaboratively conduct projects that
encourage Americans to make small behavioral changes that reduce the burden
of obesity, diabetes, and asthma. Because physical inactivity and poor
nutrition are underlying risk factors of obesity, and increased exercise and
improved nutrition can reduce this condition, the YMCA of the USA is a vital
partner of the Steps Program. Since FY 2005, the YMCA of the USA has
provided grants to local YMCAs and Steps-funded communities to work together
on evidence-based, chronic disease prevention and promotion programs.
In 2006, the accomplishments generated from collaborative efforts between
local YMCA of the USA and their communities’ Steps programs were profiled in a
YMCA of the USA
national report, entitled “YMCA/Steps
Community Collaborative Projects: Six Case Narratives”* (PDF–840K). More
recently, in the Spring of 2007, the YMCA of the USA released a national report
entitled "YMCA/Steps
Community Collaborative Projects: Success Stories – Partnerships that Expand
the Potential"* (PDF–2MB),
which includes special profiles of another 11 YMCA/Steps partnerships at the
community level, as well as a summary of all 40 YMCA/Steps Community
Collaborative projects across the country. As a strategic partner, the
YMCA of the USA lends its facilities, staff, and
resources to leverage the public recognition and support of the Steps
Program. The organization has conducted two YMCA/Steps collaborative
workshops with Steps leaders, local YMCAs, YMCA state alliances, and a
steering committee of the nation’s premiere public health organizations.
The YMCA of the USA also actively promotes Steps activities through its many public
health initiatives, including
YMCA Activate America*, and to its 20 million members. Working together,
the Steps Program and the YMCA of the USA aim to make healthy living a reality for
millions of Americans.
*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: August 28, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and
Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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