Steps To A HealthierNY
A Healthier Broome County, One Step at a Time
Overview
Steps To A HealthierNY
is part of a national health promotion and disease prevention
initiative entitled Steps To A HealthierUS, launched by the Department
of Health and Human Services in 2003. This five year cooperative
agreement program aims to help Americans live healthier, longer, and
better lives by reducing the burden of diabetes, overweight, obesity
and asthma and addressing three related risk factors- physical
inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use.
Broome County is part of a four county project lead by the New York
State Department of Health through funding from the Centers for Disease
Control. Only 12 projects in the nation were awarded funding in the
first year of the Steps initiative to implement school and
community-based initiatives that enhance and expand existing, evidenced
based efforts in our community to promote policy development,
implementation and environmental change. As a result of this
initiative, it is hopeful that Broome County residents will take
personal responsibility for their health and empower the community to
take social responsibility to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce the
burden of chronic diseases.
Featured:
In celebration of Broome County's Bicentennial, The Broome County
Health Department - Steps to a Healthier NY and United Health Services
presents BC Walks for the Gold. Starting March 28, (the actual date of
our County's 200th anniversary) 100 pairs (200 shoes) of gold shoes
will be hidden along walking trails (indoor and outdoor), county parks
and down Main Streets through towns, villages and cities throughout the
County.
More Information (pdf, 31k)
Bicentennial Celebration Schedule
Steps To A HealthierNY
A Healthier Broome County, One Step at a Time
Events
Fruits and Vegetables help ring in the New Year
On Saturday, December 31, visit United
Health Services’ First Night venue at the Broome County Forum beginning
at 5:00 p.m. and meet Barry Banana, Suzie Strawberry, Gordy Grape,
Cathy Corn and Carl Carrot! The Fruit of the Broome are made
possible by the Broome County Health Department and the Steps to a
HealthierNY initiative. One of the programs supported by the Steps to a
HealthierNY initiative is the Give Me 5 campaign that promotes eating
five or more fruits and vegetables a day for better health. “Since
United Health Services has ‘adopted’ Cosmo B. Healthy, it is important
to remind kids (and adults) of all ages to make sure that they eat a
variety of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day,”
explains Mary McFadden, Supervising Public Health Educator for the
Broome County Health Department.
Scientific findings continue to support the importance of eating a
colorful array of fruits and vegetables each day because they can
reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease,
hypertension, diabetes, certain types of cancer and other diseases.
Although eating more fruits and vegetables is a relatively simple
lifestyle change that could have a profound impact on the nation's
health, approximately 70 percent of American adults and children are
still not eating enough.
[ More Info ]
[ Event Photos ]
It's Fun to "SWIM" at the YMCA
Broome County Health
Department Steps to a HealthierNY and the Broome County YMCA celebrate
the installation of two grant funded pool chair lifts for the disabled
and elderly residents to take advantage of.
The Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY
initiative and the Broome County YMCA held a ribbon cutting ceremony to
celebrate one of the newly installed pool chair lifts at the Binghamton
YMCA on August 19th, 2005.
The Broome County Steps to a HealthierNY program aims to reduce the
burden of obesity, diabetes and asthma through community based
intervention strategies, as well as through various collaborative
partnerships that will enhance a person's ability to engage in physical
activity, better nutrition and reduce tobacco use. One of the premiere
partners of the Broome County Steps to a HealthierNY initiative is the
Broome County YMCA. The local Steps program and the YMCA
collaboratively wrote for the funding of two pool chair lifts to
enhance the physical activity options for disabled and elderly
residents of Broome County. The pool chair lifts were installed at the
YMCA in Binghamton and the YMCA in Johnson City. The funding came from
the National Steps to a HealthierUS partnership with the YMCA USA. The
YMCA USA has joined efforts with National Steps to a HealthierUS
through a 4-year cooperative agreement program aimed at strengthening
the capacity of Steps-funded communities. This was accomplished, in
part, by providing $10,000 mini-grants to local YMCA's to implement
projects that enhanced the local YMCA-Steps partnerships.
[ More Info ]
[ Event Photos ]
Charles F. Johnson Elementary School Children and Their Parents Create Walking School Buses to Promote Walking
In recognition of the national "Walk your
Child to School Day"; Wednesday, October 5, 2005, some students and
their parents living in the Union Endicott's Charles F. Johnson
Elementary School area walked to school using the idea of a walking
school bus.
The Walk your Child to School day event embraces the idea of
children walking in groups to school accompanied by adults and relies
on the community efforts to bring about neighborhood change, which
makes walking an enjoyable part of everyone's lives.
[ More Info ]
[ Event Photos ]
The Town of Conklin Honored for Becoming a "Walkable Community"
The Broome County Health Department's Steps
to a HealthierNY Program honored the Town of Conklin, Wednesday,
September 28, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. in Schnurbush Park as the town unveiled
the new Town of Conklin Life Walk, and announced its plans to make
their community more "walkable."
The Town of Conklin concerned about the health and safety of their
residents and businesses established a Walkable Communties Advisory
Board eight months ago. With the support of local leadership, the
advisory board engaged the community in a public visioning process,
assessing and identifying opportunities to implement walkable community
concepts, and develop an over all "connectivity" strategy for bikeway
and pedestrian linkages to schools, neighborhoods, parks and
commercials areas.
[ More Info ]
[ Event Photos ]
Childhood Asthma Program Training
Breathe Better In Broome provided a free
ninety-minute training for daycare providers in the American Lung
Association's Childhood Asthma Program (CAP). There were nineteen
childcare providers that participated in the one-day training at the
Stay Healthy Center located in the Oakdale Mall on August 21, 2004.
Partners included United Health Services, Community Services Asthma
Team, the American Lung Association, and the Broome County Health
Department.
[ Event Photos ]
Mission Meltaway Events at the Broome County Office for Aging Senior Centers and Union Center Christian Church
Mission Meltaway is a nationally recognized
program originally founded by the Broome County Office for Aging. This
eight-week healthy weight management education program utilizes a group
approach to weight loss. In one representative Mission Meltaway session
91 of the 100 participants lost weight after the 4-week "jump start"
program. Sixty-five percent increased their physical activity levels,
and 100 percent increased their knowledge of good nutrition and
exercise.
The eight-week program incorporates diabetes prevention strategies
related to improved nutrition and increased physical activity to
initiate and reinforce lifestyle changes. Group supported meetings
cover a range of topics including menu planning, nutrition, physical
activity, and mental health.
[ Event Photos ]
"Give Me 5" with the Binghamton Mets August 22, 2004
Our Green Acres Farmer's Market set up in
the concourse of the NYSEG Stadium to provided one-hundred lucky
Binghamton Mets fans with fresh produce. Fans were awarded "Give Me
Five" coupons after correctly answering nutrition questions asked by
the fruit and vegetable players. Fans also had the opportunity to
sample fresh recipes from Cornell Cooperative Extension during the game.
[ Event Photos ]
Steps To A HealthierNY Night with the Binghamton Mets August 18th Steps
Elizabeth Berberian, Assistant Bureau
Director of Chronic Disease NYSDOH, threw out first pitch with Broome
County Executive Jeff Kraham at the Steps To A HealthierNY Night with
the Binghamton Mets. Fans also had the opportunity to sign up for BC
Walks and receive pedometers during the game.
[ Event Photos ]
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield "Step UP" Press Conference at Otseningo Park, August 18th
Step Up is a statewide Excellus Blue
Cross/Blue Shield challenge for everyone to be healthier. For most that
means taking small, everyday steps, like walking more and eating a
little bit smarter. With Step Up, you can challenge yourself to eat
more nutritiously, be more physically active and lose weight safely.
Excellus provides all the information, motivation and support - FREE.
[ Event Photos ]
Binghamton Housing Authority & WSKG Latino Health and Wellness Event at Saratoga Apartments June 25, 2004
Community members had the opportunity to
learn about physical activity and sign up for BC Walks for a chance to
win free pedometers. Sunny Farms provided fresh produce for community
members.
[ Event Photos ]
Saint Patrick's Day Parade 2004 promoting the "Give Me 5" Campaign
The fruit and vegetable players marched in
the parade and displayed the "5 a Day" banner created by Ms. Fiorentino
1st Grade Class from Homer Brink Elementary School.
[ Event Photos ]
Steps To A HealthierNY Banner at NYSEG Stadium
The Steps To A HealthierNY tri vision sign
is located on the Binghamton Mets score board and is displayed every
fifteen minutes. The sign will run through the end of September.
[ Event Photos ]
"Give Me 5" Challenge at United Health Services Hospitals, August and September 2004
United Health Services (UHS) hospitals ran
an eight-week 5 A Day Challenge for its employees. Employees who chose
to participate in the Challenge were given a score sheet to log the
number of fruit and vegetable servings they ate for one day. Those who
ate at least five fruits and vegetables were eligible to enter a
drawing to win a gift certificate to the local farmers' markets and a
voucher for the hospital cafeteria. Ten prizes were awarded each week
and employees were able to participate as often as they wished! To
kickoff the Challenge, Cornell Cooperative Extension provided free
samples of a fresh fruit low fat smoothie and UHS Food Service provided
a full week menu featuring entrees and side dishes made from fresh
fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society was on-hand to
provide employees with information and assistance in calculating their
Body Mass Index to determine their percentage of body fat.
[ Event Photos ]
"Give Me 5" Campaign Kickoff at the Giant Market, Rano Boulevard, Vestal, NY on April 27, 2004
The Broome County Health Department joined
together with United Health Services, Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Giant Food Markets, the Broome County Farmers' Market, the Family
Enrichment Network, Broome-Tioga BOCES, as well as the Johnson City,
Union Endicott and Binghamton School Districts to kickoff the "Give Me
5" campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage Broome County
residents to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables
everyday.
During the kickoff the Giant Market provided a tour of the store for
children from the Family Enrichment Network. Dole "5 A Day" music was
piped throughout the store and the Fruit and Vegetable Players were on
hand to educate shoppers and the children about the importance of
eating fruits and vegetables. Cornell Cooperative Extension provided
taste testing of recipes made from fresh fruits and vegetables and
Broome County Executive Jeffery Kraham proclaimed April 27, 2004 to be
"Five A Day" in the County of Broome to honor all those participating
in the "Give Me 5" campaign.
[ Event Photos ]
"Give Me 5" School Campaign Kickoff June 7, 2004 at Theodore Roosevelt School Cafeteria, Ogden Street, Binghamton, NY
The Broome County Health Department joined
together with United Health Services, Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Giant Food Markets, the Broome County Farmers' Market, the Family
Enrichment Network, Broome - Tioga BOCES as well as the Johnson City,
Union Endicott and Binghamton School Districts for the "Give Me 5"
campaign, to encourage Broome County residents to eat at least five
servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
During the school kick off event the Fruit and Vegetable Players
provided education on the importance of eating fruits and vegetables,
and challenged the students to eat five fruits and vegetable every day.
The schools also provided a variety of fresh fruit for the children to
sample during the event. A different fruit or vegetable of the week was
highlighted through out the campaign on the morning announcements, in
the cafeteria and on the school menu. Cornell Cooperative Extension's
NY Food of the Month column was featured in the each participating
school district's monthly newsletter to support the promotion.
[ Event Photos ]
Steps To A HealthierNY
A Healthier Broome County, One Step at a Time
Programs
BC Walks
is a unique community walking campaign aimed at communicating a simple
but important health message: regular walking can improve energy, help
people feel better and it doesn't take much time. A new component to BC
Walks is BC Walks Jr. This is a school based health promotion activity
to engage children in walking as a physical activity. For more
information or to enroll in BC Walks, contact 607.763.5092, or go to www.bcwalks.com.
The Farm to You
community intervention relies heavily on a Give Me Five education and
awareness campaign that focuses on bringing the National Cancer
Institute's message of five fruits and vegetables a day to Broome
County schools, worksites and grocery stores. Farm to you also promotes
local farmer's markets. For more information on this intervention,
contact: 607.778.3921.
Binghamton Farmers' Market Revival
Breathe Better in Broome
is a multi pronged approach to the prevention, education, and
management of Asthma. This intervention focuses on providing evidence
based education programs in daycares, preschools, elementary, middle
and middle schools, with parental involvement and opportunity for
families to have home visits that will assist with identifying asthma
triggers and provide them with a plan to address it. Physician
education will be conducted as part of this intervention as well. For
more information contact: 607.763.6060.
BC Breastfeeds
is a community intervention designed to increase the rates of
breastfeeding in Broome County through components of peer counseling,
provider education, a nationally adopted breastfeeding media, education
and awareness campaign, and worksite breastfeeding policy guidance and
implementation. For more information contact: 607.778.2845.
Community Gardens
is a county wide mobilization strategy to encourage gardening with a
cohesive group of participants at worksites, schools, faith based
organizations and senior centers that will aid in increasing physical
activity levels, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and long term
goals of sustainability through lead gardening sites, stakeholder
contributions, community supported agriculture programs and enhancement
of local farmer's markets. For more information contact: 607.778.3929.
Mission Meltaway
is a nationally recognized program originally founded by the Broome
County Office for Aging. It is an eight week healthy weight management
education program with a group approach to weight loss. There are eight
participating sites in Broome County, including worksites, faith based
organizations, and community agencies. There is a weekly support group
with a trained facilitator that incorporates the National Diabetes
Education Program: "Small Steps, Big Rewards" strategies related to
improved nutrition and increased physical activity to initiate and
reinforce lifestyle changes. For more information contact:
607.778.2411. [ Mission Meltaway Sites 2005 ]
Tobacco Systems Change
will provide training and brief intervention strategies for smoking
cessation through the University of Pittsburgh International Smoking
Cessation Specialist Program for health care professionals. This
training will enable healthcare professionals to easily move patients
through the smoking cessation stages of change model one visit at a
time until patients are quit for good. This one-day, six-hour training
will be held at St. Patrick's Church in Whitney Point on September 10,
2004. Participants will leave with the tools to implement the brief
cessation counseling skills in their own practices. For more
information contact: 607.763.6060.
Diabetes Professional Education
provides an easy way for primary care physicians to receive continuing
education credits through the Steps Lunch and Learn program. This
program utilizes segments of the NYSDOH Diabetes Prevention and Control
Program satellite broadcast, The Diabetes Epidemic: Preventing the
Preventable and will be offered at primary care offices in Broome
County. The purpose of the Lunch and Learn program's are to reinforce
the recommended standards of care for persons living with diabetes, and
screening recommendations for pre diabetes information on the DPP
outcomes. The NDEP's "Small Steps, Big Rewards" Campaign materials and
Health Care Provider Toolkit will also be utilized. For more
information contact: 607.778.3929.