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Funding Period:
2004–2009
The Steps Program in Tioga 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
Located in north-central Pennsylvania, Tioga County encompasses small
towns, picturesque farms, and rugged forests. This northern Appalachian area
has a population of 42,000 people within 1,145 square miles. The median
household income is $35,714; 14% of county residents live below the federal
poverty level (2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimates). Many of the residents are
uninsured and do not routinely seek preventive services, which is reflected
in the high rates of obesity, diabetes, asthma, and tobacco use. Only
one-third of Tioga County residents are at a healthy weight, and the
incidence of overweight and obesity continues to rise.
Spotlight on Success
The Steps Program in Tioga County implemented Shape Up Tioga County, a
flexible 10-week program that encourages people to be more active by asking
them to set their own goals based on how active they are compared with how
active they would like to be. Throughout the 10 weeks, the program offers
community education sessions and group outdoor activity opportunities. Five
hundred residents participated in Shape Up and gained knowledge about
healthy eating and physical activity. More than half of participants were
physically active for at least 30 minutes, five times a week, during the
program.
Community Partnerships
Since 1993, a local coalition called the Tioga County Partnership for
Community Health has offered a vision for healthy communities, a forum for
collaboration of committed partners, grant resources for program
implementation, and support for a range of programs designed to address the
identified health and human service needs of all Tioga County citizens. This
well-established local collaborative also serves as the Steps Community
Consortium. Partnership members represent 15 work groups, each of which
addresses a specific health or quality-of-life issue, including the Steps
focus areas of obesity, diabetes, and asthma and their related risk factors.
Contact
Steps to a Healthier PA–Tioga County
Northcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center
Telephone: 570-724-9145
www.tiogasteps.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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