Steps Communities

From 2003–2009, the CDC’s Steps Program awarded over $100 million to 40 United States communities. Communities implemented programs to reduce the burden of obesity, diabetes, and asthma, and produced local success in reducing the prevalence of the three related health risk factors: physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use and exposure.

The unique approach of Steps promoted accelerated change within each community. By forming partnerships with traditional and non-traditional partners, communities were able to enhance program delivery and sustainability. Interventions were integrated across the public and private sectors—including community settings, schools, work sites, and health care settings.

Steps communities were funded under three categories: State-Coordinated Small Cities or Rural Communities; Large Cities or Urban Communities; and Tribes or Tribal Entities.

Steps Success Stories and Communities

Success Stories

• Responding to Community Needs
• Creating Healthier School Environments
• Working in Health Care Settings to Improve Patient Care
• Helping Work Sites Improve Employee Health

Steps Community List

• HTML version
• PDF version [21–KB]

Steps Community Map

• HTML version
• PDF version [411–KB]

Success Stories

The Steps Program in Action: Success Stories on Community Initiatives to Prevent Chronic Diseases [PDF–917K] is a 44-page booklet illustrating local community interventions in schools, work sites, communities, and health care settings that promote healthier lifestyles and assist people in making sustainable changes to reduce their risks for chronic diseases.
Individual profiles from The Steps Program in Action and other sources are listed below.

Responding to Community Needs

• Broome County, New York [PDF–84K] — Helping control diabetes and obesity.
• Clark County, Washington [PDF–252K] — Getting results with a walking guide and physical activity campaign.
• Cleveland, Ohio [PDF–82K] — Organizing community gardens for promoting physical activity and healthy eating.
• Cochise County, Arizona [PDF–81K] — Encouraging healthy eating.
• Fayette County, Pennsylvania [PDF–86K] — Improving physical activity and healthy eating.
• Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan [PDF–86K] — Encouraging chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
• Luzerne County, Pennsylvania [PDF–90K] — Increasing awareness of chronic disease prevention.
• Mesa County, Colorado [PDF–87K] — Providing a health promotion program in conjunction with healthcare providers.
• River Region, Alabama [PDF–82K] — Improving diabetes self-management through wellness advocate assistance.
• Rochester, Minnesota [PDF–90K] — Increasing family fitness opportunities.
• Southeast Alaska [PDF–319K] — Improving nutrition and physical activity policies and practices at child care centers.
• Weld County, Colorado [PDF–81K] — Improving diabetes prevention and management among Hispanics.
• Yuma County, Arizona [PDF–88K] — Improving nutrition and physical activity policies and practices at child care centers.

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Creating Healthier School Environments

• Boston, Massachusetts [PDF–83K] — Increasing healthy behaviors among students.
• Broome County, New York [PDF–161K] — Creating a healthier school lunch menu using an innovative school lunch purchasing initiative.
• Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma [PDF–88K] — Reducing tobacco use on school campuses.
• Colorado State [PDF–91K]— Reducing students’ risky health behaviors.
• Hillsborough County, Florida [PDF–83K] — Educating parents and staff to assist with student asthma management.
• Pinellas County, Florida [PDF–82K] — Increasing schools’ lunchtime fruit and vegetable choices.
• Rockland County, New York [PDF–90K] — Improving students’ health and academics through integrated physical activity in the curriculum.
• San Antonio, Texas [PDF–85K] — Creating student asthma action plans in schools.
• Southeast Region, Alabama [PDF–94K] — Promoting healthy behaviors among students and staff members.

Working in Health Care Settings to Improve Patient Care

• Chautauqua County, New York [PDF–80K]— Educating patients on tobacco use and cessation.
• Salinas, California [PDF–82K] — Improving the delivery of diabetes care through an electronic documentation system.

Helping Work Sites Improve Employee Health

• Austin, Texas [PDF–89K] — Improving obesity management and reducing health care costs through worksite wellness program.
• Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties, Washington [PDF–97K] — Creating healthier working environments.
• Jefferson County, New York [PDF–88K] — Promoting healthy behaviors among school employees.
• Santa Cruz County, Arizona [PDF–90K] — Improving the health of both employees and students.

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