1. Community Engagement for Health Improvement
STEPS: Seneca Towns Engaging People for Solutions
Focusing on the Social Determinants of Health since 2013

2. Presenters Theresa Lahr, Project Coordinator, STEPS
Gabe Telarico, Community Business Mentor, STEPS

3. Introductions Tell your partner your name and where you live
Tell your partner something about you
Listen to what each person has to say
What did you just learn that you can imagine helps build into a stronger community

4. Today’s Take AwayS
Understanding of an innovative paradigm that engages residents in the co-production of health
Understanding the extent of community change that can be achieved by engaging residents
Understanding how institutional partnerships that incorporate residents as authentic actors can expand the institution’s ability to achieve their goals.

5. The STEPS opportunity
Funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation’s Neighborhood Health Status Improvement Initiative.
Sponsored by S2AY Rural Health Network.
Support engaging residents to take action on health improvement.
Provide small staff of organizers, basic operations, and mini-grants for resident groups.
Require ABCD approach and SDH focus.
Participate in Community Based Participatory Evaluation.

7. THE STEPS NEIGHBORHOOD
STEPS works with 10,000+ residents in the towns of Covert, Lodi, Ovid & Romulus

8. Building on our strengths
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach
ABCD Principles:
Asset Based (built on positives, strengths and opportunities)
Relationship Driven (centered on people in the neighborhood working together)
Place Based (locally focused)
ABCD Practices:
Asset Mapping (finding all the good things)
Asset Mobilizing (connecting the good things for positive purposes)
STEPS:
Conducted an asset-based assessment of the neighborhood’s strengths.
Worked with residents to develop a health improvement plan that incorporates those strengths.
Supports residents to implement their health improvement plan.

9. A continuous process Assess Plan Do Assessment & Engagement
Planning and Building Partnerships
Implementation of Long-Term Plan

10. The health improvement plan
The STEPS community developed a plan with three main focus areas:
Improving the physical environment
Improving personal health and wellness
Increasing economic and educational opportunities
Each focus area includes numerous specific activities designed to move the community toward the health improvement objective.
The entire plan emphasizes the social determinants of health.

11. Social Determinants of health
Economic Stability
Education
Social, Family & Community
Neighborhood & Environment
Health & Health Care
Housing Security & Stability
Early Childhood Education & Development
Social Cohesion
Environmental Conditions
Access to Primary Care/Trusted Provider
Employment
High School Education
Civic Participation
Access to Health Foods
Health Literacy
Language & Literacy

12. Our focus today is engagement
Theresa Lahr, Project Coordinator, will discuss strategies for engagement throughout the health improvement plan, and comment on why having residents at the center of community health improvement efforts is critical.
Gabe Telarico, Community Business Mentor, will discuss strategies for engaging residents in the Improving Economic and Educational Opportunities focus area of the health improvement plan.

13. RESIDENTS ON THE MOVE!

14. Resident Health Promotion Projects FOR ENGAGEMENT
Over 50 Resident Driven Projects implemented since November 2013.
Citizens taking action to improve their community.
14 projects in a 6 month period engaged 250 residents.
Key examples.

15. Perseverance, RESIDENT LEADERSHIP, AUTHENTIC ACTORS
“Who Knows? The program may someday serve the whole county and could be a model for other counties. That is my dream,” Dresser said. “The program also provides an opportunity for residents to interact with their neighbors in a manner that will form relationships and a sense of community.” FLT 2016

16. Support for Local Business
Networking
Marketing
Staffing
Microenterprise Grants/Loan Program

17. SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION Support for Education: ADD A PHOTO HERE
Work with local School Districts to create learning opportunities for students in their career interests.
Local businesses act as work study sites.
Students gain hands on work experience while earning school credit.
Short week programs allow students to test the career fit.
ADD A PHOTO HERE

18. Change at the personal level
Christy—
Improved business with a micro-enterprise loan
Increased community involvement with classes
More networking within the community leading to a larger support system
Doris —
25 lb weight loss
Diabetes and blood pressure control
community engagement

19. CHANGE AT THE PERSONAL LEVEL
Getting involved means:
Reduced stress
Better outlook
Improved mental health
Increased sense of self-efficacy

20. Change at the community level
Getting involved means:
Local assets put to work for good
Increased collective efficacy
South County Recognition
Environment and Policy Change

21. Change in health status – Participatory Evaluation
Shirley B "You can be proud that STEPS has been a great catalyst for improving the attitudes and available activities here at the Conifer community and throughout the Village ."

22.
NYStepsProject
Thank you!
Questions? Comments?