What is STEPS?

Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough is a bold new initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This five-year program aims to help Hillsborough County citizens live longer, better, and healthier lives by reducing diabetes, overweight, obesity, and asthma and addressing three related risk factors - physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use.

Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough is a multi-million dollar grant designed to lower the occurrence and the associated health care costs relating to obesity, diabetes and asthma by targeting the three contributing behaviors of poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and tobacco usage. As the Hillsborough County Health Department and its partnering health organizations enter their second grant year, Steps officials are seeking increased public involvement.

The Hillsborough County Health Department and its community partners are implementing a variety of action plans and health-related events as we all take Steps Toward a Healthier Lifestyle!

Program Goals
Reduce Obesity among children and adults through Better Nutrition and increased Physical Activity.
Reduce Diabetes among children and adults.
Reduce Asthma among adults and children through Decreasing Tobacco usage and exposure.

Intervention Area
The intervention area covers a large portion of Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and the City of Temple Terrace. The intervention area includes the following zip codes: 33602, 33603, 33604, 33605, 33606, 33607, 33609, 33610, 33611, 33612, 3613 33616, 33617, 33619, 33629, and 33637. The intervention area is bordered by Bearss Avenue on the North, Madison Avenue on the South, Armenia Avenue on the West an Interstate75 on the east.