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Funding Period:
2003–2008
The Steps Program in New Orleans, Louisiana
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 to a Healthier New Orleans program focuses its programmatic
efforts on people most burdened by chronic diseases, including low-income
city residents and minority groups, particularly blacks or African
Americans. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, almost 26% of Orleans
Parish residents lived below the federal poverty level in 2005, and the
median household income was $30,216. Today, in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina, the Steps to a Healthier New Orleans Program is playing a large
role in bringing partners together to support citywide initiatives that will
help make New Orleans a healthier, better-prepared city.
Spotlight on Success
- The New Orleans school system changed drastically after Hurricane
Katrina hit the area in 2005. Before the storm, the New Orleans Public
School system operated 128 schools in the city. Now, 23 distinct
entities operate 58 public and charter schools. Flooding and
fragmentation of the school system resulted in lost health records,
policy manuals, and health curricula. Some school nurses were new to the
field and many were functioning without a medical advisor or a link to
their peers. Additionally, many new administrators were unaware of state
and federal school health policies. Preliminary conversations with a
small group of school nurses revealed a need for coordination and
capacity building. Steps convened health staff members from each school
to create an opportunity to share resources and build relationships.
With assistance from Steps, this group of nurses has grown to a
coalition with representatives from 41 of the 58 schools. The work group
is acting to unify health policies and practices across schools,
increase the capacity of school staff, and link schools to community
resources.
- The New Orleans Steps Program organized several programs to promote
physical activity and healthy eating in the community. Interventions
included sending out grassroots health care messages through
church-based nurses and lay health educators, and increasing the
availability of healthy foods such as fresh fruits, low-fat milk, and
whole grains in neighborhood corner stores through partnerships formed
by Steps Community Intermediaries projects.
Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are integral to the success of the Steps Program
in New Orleans. Partnerships consist of both traditional and nontraditional
partners, including health care providers, faith-based organizations,
cooperative extension services, and academic institutions. The Louisiana
Public Health Institute, Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans,
Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management, EXCELth, Black
Women’s Health Project of Louisiana, and New Orleans Public Schools are just
some of Steps partner organizations. These varied groups help steer the
strategies and execution of interventions in the New Orleans Steps
community.
Contact
Steps to a Healthier New Orleans
New Orleans Health Department
Telephone: 504-658-2500
www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal48/portal.aspx*
*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).
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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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