Arizona Department of Health Services: Division of Public Health Services: Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Nutrition Services: Index

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Steps To A Healthier Arizona Initiative
150 N. 18th Avenue
Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-1214
Toll Free:
1-888-542-1886
(602) 542-0512 Fax

Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control

Steps To A Healthier Arizona Initiative

The Steps To A Healthier Arizona (Steps) Initiative is a partnership between the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Arizona Department of Education (ADE), University of Arizona (UA), and local community-based organizations. The purpose of the program is to lessen the impact of diabetes, obesity and asthma in Southern Arizona. This region includes the Cochise, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties, as well as the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The Steps program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program expands upon Border Health ¡SI!, which is a partnership between community and academic representatives to prevent and control chronic disease along the U.S-Mexico border. ADHS coordinates with Steps program contractors to provide patient education, school health education, health care provider training, as well as community nutrition and physical activity programs. In addition, Special Action Groups/community coalitions develop and implement local policy and environmental changes that lead to healthy lifestyles.

Vision
To be recognized as a leader in preventing diabetes, obesity and asthma and their complications using integrated strategies and interventions.

Mission
To prevent and control chronic disease through effective, innovative programs using an integrated approach and cross community interventions, and by empowering the community to make public policy and environmental changes in support of healthier lifestyles.

Goal
To reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and asthma and address the related risk factors of poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.

Overall Objectives

Build on Border Health ¡SI! project to include obesity and asthma interventions.
Establish and strengthen Special Action Groups/community coalitions.
Increase number of schools that use the School Health Index, a self-assessment guide developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Coordinate ADHS efforts and programs at local community levels.
Establish systems for recording and analyzing health data/statistics.
Involve community partners in the development of programs and training.
Train health care providers and lay health workers at the local level.

Program Components
Key elements of the Steps program include:

patient education
health care provider and lay health worker training
nutrition education and physical activity programs
asthma education
health marketing campaigns
School Health Index
Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care
Special Action Groups/community coalitions

Arizonan Adults At Risk

7.5% of adults in Arizona reported having been told by a doctor that they had diabetes, while 12.2% reported having been told they had asthma. According to height and weight data, 21.1% of adults and 12% of youth in Arizona were considered obese.
46.6 % of Arizonan adults did not meet the recommended guidelines for moderate and/or vigorous physical activity. 68% of Arizona youth did not meet currently recommended levels of physical activity.
Approximately 76.3% of adults and 85% of youth in Arizona did not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables per day.
20.2%, of Arizonan adults were smokers. 21% of Arizona youth smoked cigarettes during the past month.
*Source: 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System