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Funding Period:
2003–2008
The Steps Program in Seattle–King County,
Washington
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
In Washington State, the Steps Program in Seattle–King County works to
build healthier communities in six contiguous cities in southwestern King
County, including the southern portion of Seattle. Programmatic efforts in
schools, health care settings, work sites, and communities are focused on
people most burdened by chronic diseases, including racial and ethnic
minority groups and people living below the federal poverty level. The
Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking communities are a special focus. The
racially and ethnically diverse intervention area includes 352,836 people,
with many residents more likely than those in other parts of the county to
live below the federal poverty level, to face language barriers, and to
experience adverse health conditions.
Spotlight on Success
The Steps Program in Seattle partners with a local medical center to provide
case management services to emergency room patients with asthma or diabetes
who do not already have a primary care provider. The Steps Nurse Case
Management program receives about 40 referrals per month from the medical
center’s emergency room, and nearly half (48%) of these patients are
connected with a primary care provider. Patients with diabetes who received
case management services showed significant improvement in their blood sugar
levels. Additionally, emergency room use declined among patients who
received case management services and were connected with a primary care
provider.
Community Partnerships
The community partnerships are integral to the success of the
Seattle–King County Steps Program. The consortium is open to all
organizations, agencies, and individuals interested in the Steps initiative.
It currently has more than 75 members, including community-based
organizations, health care providers, hospitals, health insurance plans,
clinics, universities, faith-based groups, government agencies, and school
districts. These diverse organizations guide the design and implementation
of interventions used in the Steps Program.
Contact
King County Steps to Health
Public Health–Seattle and King County
Telephone: 206-205-0932
www.metrokc.gov/health/steps
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 31, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and
Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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