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Funding Period:
2004–2009
The Steps Program in Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania
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
Luzerne County, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, is a mix of urban
and rural communities that have struggled economically since the decline of
the coal and garment industries in the 1950s. The population of 319,250 is
primarily non-Hispanic white; less than 2% of residents are non-Hispanic
black, and just over 1% is Hispanic or Latino. However, the Hispanic or
Latino population’s growth rate has been cited as the fourth most rapid
among U.S. counties, and the resident population is characterized by rich
ethnic and religious diversity. Almost 20% of county residents are 65 or
older. The median household income is $37,295; nearly 13% of county
residents live below the federal poverty level (2005 U.S. Census Bureau
estimates), almost 6% are unemployed, and 11% have no health insurance.
Rates of diabetes, asthma, heart disease, obesity, and smoking-related
chronic diseases are higher in Luzerne County than in the state overall.
There are more than 49,200 students enrolled in 64 public schools in the
county’s 11 school districts; 38% of these students are eligible for free or
reduced-price lunches. National averages and newly released obesity rates
show that more than 30% of the county’s children in kindergarten through
fourth grade have BMIs in the 85th percentile or greater.
Spotlight on Success
Luzerne County’s Steps Program partnered with a local television station
to create public service announcements and other programming that shows
people how small changes in nutrition and physical activity can help prevent
many chronic conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and asthma. This
partnership has almost doubled viewer exposure to health and active
lifestyle messages, and sponsor donations that cover production and airtime
costs have leveraged Steps funding by 600%. Read this success story in The
Steps Program in Action, available at
www.cdc.gov/steps/success_stories/pdf/luzerne.pdf (PDF- 94KB).
Community Partnerships
The Steps Program is bringing together a number of local-area health
coalitions to begin the development of a countywide community wellness
consortium. Members of many separate work groups have met together twice
since 2005, first for a visioning retreat and then for a follow-up planning
and skills-building retreat. These work groups include more than 100
individuals from approximately 60 organizations, agencies, colleges and
universities, health care systems and insurance plans, chambers of commerce,
churches, school districts, government agencies, and businesses.
Contact
Steps to a Healthier PA–Luzerne County
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center
Telephone: 570-945-5623
www.stepstoahealthierluzernecounty.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: August 5, 2008
Page last modified: August 5, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and
Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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